THIS WEEK’S MILESTONES: Dec. 23-29, 2018

Dec. 23, 1976

The Tripoli Agreement, which called for autonomy in 13 provinces and nine cities in southern Philippines, was signed between then Defense Undersecretary Carmelo Barbero and Moro National Liberation Front chair Nur Misuari in Tripoli, Libya’s capital city.

Under the agreement, a legislative assembly shall be formed through an election and an executive council shall be created through appointments.

The agreement gave the Muslims the right to have their own administrative system and set up their own courts.

It also called for a ceasefire to be declared.

Talks to hammer out the implementation of the agreement resumed in February 1977,  but the talks eventually broke down.

Dec. 26, 1968

Jose Maria Sison and his colleagues met in Pangasinan province for the “reestablishment of the Communist Party of the Philippines.”

A former student activist, Sison was a member of Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas, which was established in 1930, but was expelled due to his criticism of its leaders.

Sison then established the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) on Dec. 26, the birthday of Communist China’s founder, Mao Zedong.

The group seeks to overthrow US imperialism, feudalism and bureaucratic capitalism, and eventually create a new state led by the working class.

In March 1969, the CPP formed its armed wing under the leadership of Bernabe Buscayno.

Compiled by Kathleen de Villa, Inquirer Research