“These ever expanding and deepening bases render great advantage to the NPA’s maneuver, the launching of tactical offensives (TO), the recruitment of Red fighters, the implementation of widespread agrarian revolution and the launching of mass struggles.”
Kitcharao, AGUSAN DEL NORTE — The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) further gained strength despite more than five years of brutal counter-insurgency operations by the Benigno Aquino government, a top rebel leader said during their 47th founding anniversary celebrations in this town on December 26.
National Democratic Front of the Philippines-Mindanao
spokesperson Jorge ‘Ka Oris’ Madlos said that from 40 guerilla fronts
nationwide at the start of the Aquino administration, the New People’s Army
(NPA) now has six more fronts in five regions of Mindanao.
Madlos added that the NPA’s operations in Mindanao
now cover 2,500 barrios from 1,850 five years ago.
“These ever expanding and deepening bases render great
advantage to the NPA’s maneuver, the launching of tactical offensives (TO), the
recruitment of Red fighters, the implementation of widespread agrarian
revolution and the launching of mass struggles,” said Madlos in a video
message.
A company of uniformed guerillas presented arms while the
communist hymn “Ang Internasyunal” was sung to start a three-hour program
marked with speeches, songs and skits that delighted the thousands of
supporters, well-wishers and guests who attended the event.
The fact that a single NPA Front can organize and
successfully hold a big public event despite threats and harassments by the
Armed Forces of the Philippines
Threats and harassments
Government troops set up checkpoints on roads leading to the
venue of the celebrations, but these were ignored by convoys of vehicles
carrying visitors to the guerrillas’ celebrations.
More than a dozen journalists also covered the event despite
threats by the Magahat-Bagani paramilitary group that they would kill those who
will cover the anniversary celebrations.
In a press conference after the main program, Utok and Front
16 political officer “Ka Edroy” condemned threats made by Magahat-Bagani leader
Loloy Tejoro as part of a single act by the paramilitary group, the Philippine
Information Agency and the Aquino government.
“It was the PIA who disseminated Tejero’s threat to kill
journalists who will cover our celebrations, and it is proof they are colluding
in this criminal act,” Ka Edroy said.
Philippine Army public information officer Col. Benjamin Hao
however belied the NPA’s accusation and claims of increased strength and
influence.
No SOMO violations by Philippine Army
“The threat of the Magahats, if it is true, is of their own
doing. We do not have anything to do about it,” Hao said.
“If journalists have problems on that, we will provide necessary assistance if they request from us, the PNP (Philippine National Police) or they can file an appropriate case,” Hao added.
The government army spokesperson belied their checkpoints
were directed against the NPA and their supporters. He said no operation is
conducted to violate the suspension of military operations (SOMO) with the NPA.
The checkpoints, Hao claimed, were for the tower posts of the National Grid
Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP).
There were reports of NGCP towers under threat of attack in
Kitcharao town where the NPA held their celebrations, however.
AFP records
Hao also dismissed Madlos’s statements as “highly
exaggerated”.
He said that based on AFP records, the NPA strength of 2,035
has gone down to 1,691 followers this year. He added that the NPA’s most
significant decline is in the number of their guerilla fronts, which used to be
29 but is now down to 24.
Hao said further that out of the 547 NPA-influenced
barangays, it is now down to 413. On firearms count, he said the NPA lost 101
firearms this year. “They also lost a lot of leaders, especially Commander
Parago,” Hao added.
“These are contrary to what are being claimed by the NPA
spokesman of Mindanao (Madlos)…So wherever he
got his number, he is now accountable to his boss in The Netherlands,” Hao
said, referring to CPP founder Jose Maria Sison.
Ever increasing NPA victories
Madlos said that in 2015 alone, the NPA in Mindanao
launched more than 500 tactical offensives.
“The number of tactical offensives in the whole of Mindanao continues to increase, from 250 TOs when the
US-Aquino III regime began its term in 2010, to 350 TOs in 2011, then 400 in
2012, more than 400 each in 2013 and 2014, and more than 500 in 2015,” Madlos
said.
“In the year 2015 in Mindanao
alone, the cumulative number of enemy troops killed in battles with the NPA
reached more than a battalion, not counting those wounded in action, while
there were only a few NPA casualties,” Madlos added.
Under the Aquino government, 61 state forces were captured
and declared Prisoners of War (POW) in Mindanao .
Most of them were released through high-profile turn over ceremonies involving
the Philippine National Red Cross, church leaders and politicians such as Davao City
Festive mood
Despite threats by the Magahat-Bagani and the presence of
checkpoints on roads leading to the venue, the celebrations started on time
this year.
To the delight of the crowd, the performers did not mind
rolling on the ground rendered muddy by the intermittent rains.
Unlike last year, tents were put up to protect the crowd from the sun and the rain.
Unlike last year, tents were put up to protect the crowd from the sun and the rain.
Before lunch time, dozens of lechon (whole roast pig)
arrived strapped on “skylab” motorcycles that were served with fried chicken
and rice.
Youthful NPA fighters took over the stage and sang as their
guests started trekking back down to the main roads at around two in the
afternoon.
On spots along the mountain roads, skylabs laden with big
canisters were parked and ice cream was offered for free to the visitors.
The Philippine Army checkpoint at the corner of the provincial road and the national highway was gone by the time the main body of the attendees made their way back home.
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