Reds see 'presidentiables' knocking at their door; support for Poe assailed, defended

From InterAksyon (Dec 28): Reds see 'presidentiables' knocking at their door; support for Poe assailed, defended



NDF Far South Mindanao spokesman Ka Efren during the 47th Founding Anniversary of the CPP on Saturday, December 26.

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) said its mass base will become a ‘potent force’ in the 2016 elections and it expects presidential candidates to seek it out for support.
In a close election, the spokesman of the National Democratic Front in Far South Mindanao Region (NDF-FSMR) said presidential candidates will ‘scramble’ to reach out to win the support of the rebel movement.

“Mas magkukumahog ang matag isa sa ila nga i-reach out kadtong mga grupo nga sa tan-aw nila maka-deliver og (Each will scramble to reach out to groups that will deliver) votes in favor of them,” said Ka Efren, spokesperson of the NDF Far South Mindanao Region.

The NDF is the political umbrella of the CPP which celebrated its 47th Founding Anniversary on Saturday, December 26.

The armed wing of the CPP is the New People’s Army, believed to number at least 8,000 armed regulars, majority them deployed in Mindanao.

Ka Efren said that as a policy, the CPP-NPA-NDF will not participate in the presidential elections but it will allow its allies to form tactical alliance with progressive forces, political parties and individual candidates based on track record and acceptance of “minimum programs and people’s agenda.”


The NDF spokesman added that the underground movement is still “in the process of consultation” with different regional party committees and with its mass base.

The consultation process appeared to instigate and create another debate in the communist underground movement after the National United Front Commission, a staff organ of the CPP, reportedly told its forces to support the candidacy of Senator Grace Poe.

Regional party organs in Mindanao have reportedly aired their views over the haste with which the NUFC arrived at a decision.

Although Ka Efren did not mention any particular presidential candidate, it appears that Senator Poe has been the beneficiary of the NUFC decision.

Nonetheless, Ka Efren said, the CPP-NPA-NDF is yet to issue a statement on the conduct and strategy of the underground movement with regards the 2016 elections.

Ka Efren said the revolutionary forces will try to maximize and leverage its mass base in order to advance the “people’s interest” during the election.

The NDF spokesman said they will give emphasis and importance to the track record of the presidential candidates in determining the conduct of its alliance and united front work.

Rumblings in the Legal Left

Sources from the aboveground Left, particularly the trade union movement, said the decision to declare support for any particular presidential candidate came very early.


Among the presidential candidates, only Senator Miriam Santiago has no formal or previous links with the underground movement.

Vice President Jejomar Binay, a former human rights lawyer, has a history of defending captured communist party leaders. Mar Roxas’ father, Gerry Roxas, was instrumental in the establishment of the NDF.

Senator Grace Poe has reportedly agreed to include progressive forces allied with the Makabayan bloc in her slate.


Of all the presidential candidates, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, however, appears to have the longest track record of maintaining relations with both the progressive movement and the communist rebel movement.

Makabayan vice president for external affairs Teddy Casiño, himself a former member of the House or Representatives, acknowledged that there have been reactions from some member of the progressive bloc, particularly in Mindanao where Duterte is leading the rest of presidential candidates.


Casiño, however defended the position of Makabayan in throwing its support for Poe.

“It underwent a process.  It would be awkward if we suddenly drop Poe like a hot potato because a progressive candidate has joined the race,” Casiño said in defending their position.

But the former congressman said they are willing to discuss any contrary position from their member at the territorial level.

“Sa ngayon, wala pa namang pormal na (As of now, there is nor formal) petition from the ground,” Casiño said.

In the 2013 elections, the Makabayan bloc garnered a total combined votes of more than 4.2 million which earned for its group 7 seats in the House of Representatives.

Outgoing Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares is running for senator under Poe’s ticket.

Casiño conceded that Duterte has a long history of cooperation and coalition with the progressive bloc.

But he said at the time the Makabayan bloc arrived at the decision, Duterte was still insisting that he was not running for president.

Duterte finally decided to run for president as substitute to PDP-Laban’s Martin Diño and formally filed his certificate of candidacy on December 8.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/121932/reds-see-presidentiables-knocking-at-their-door-support-for-poe-assailed-defended