“The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) in Mindanao grew by thousands despite intense militarization in the entire island.” Thus did Ka Oris describe the Party’s overall disposition in Mindanao during a program held to celebrate the CPP’s 46th anniversary on December 26.
More than 10,000 Party members, friends and allies were able to gather in a village in Marihatag, Surigao del Sur despite maneuvers by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to stop them from attending by setting up many checkpoints along the way and delaying the advance of a convoy of up to 200 vehicles.
Among those who joined the gathering was Fidel Agcaoili, a member of the NDFP negotiating panel; Surigao del Sur vice governor Manuel Alamada; and other local politicians and their representatives.
According to Ka Oris, National Democratic Front-Mindanao spokesperson, the CPP in Mindanao has been able to maintain its 46 guerrilla fronts amid relentless attacks by AFP forces who now number 55 battalions. Throughout 2014, the NPA was able to launch 300 tactical offensives and inflict battalion-size casualties on the enemy.
“The mass movements in the urban centers of the various provinces of Mindanao like the cities of Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Butuan, Surigao, General Santos, Iligan,
Zamboanga, Dipolog, Kidapawan, Cotabato and Tagum have supported the advancing armed struggle.”
A key indicator of the overall advance are the thousands of new Party members in the villages, factories, schools and communities. Their recruitment was due to the sustained and vigorous mass movement and strict implementation of ideological work such as giving the intermediate and advanced Party courses to its members.
“As a result of the Party’s firm leadership, it has a growing influence over the various sectors, including church people, academics and other middle forces, in their particular struggles,” said Ka Oris.
The celebration provided an opportunity to hold a peace conference, where Ka Fidel Agcaoili accepted the manifesto of support for the GPH-NDF peace talks drawn up by Sowing the Seeds of Peace-Mindanao Movement for a Just and Lasting Peace (SSP-MMJLP). The SSP-MMJLP is composed of religious leaders and church people, lawyers, human rights advocates, Bangsamoro organizations and local government officials.
Among the SSP-MMJLP’s eight-point agenda are calls for genuine agrarian reform, national industrialization and development, jobs and recognition of workers’ rights, socio-economic and democratic rights, respect for the rights of national minorities, national and scientific culture, an independent foreign policy and equal allocation of resources for Mindanao from the GPH national budget.
After the peace forum, colorful cultural performances were presented by various groups and individuals representing the different provinces and sectors.
The gathering was a joyous occasion for comrades from various units to warmly exchange news and jointly feast on food donated by allies.
A battalion-size people’s militia provided security alongside several companies of regular NPA forces who attended the gathering.
[Ang Bayan is the official news organ of the Communist
Party of the Philippines
http://www.philippinerevolution.net/publications/ang_bayan/20150107/cpp-mindanao-holds-successful-celebration-of-46th-anniversary
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