Reds vow more attacks to force peace talks

LUCENA CITY, Quezon, Philippines—The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) on Sunday vowed to intensify attacks of its military wing, the New People’s Army (NPA), against state security forces to compel the government to talk peace with the insurgents.

“Indeed, the only way to compel the enemy to engage in serious negotiations is to inflict major defeats on it and make it realize the futility of its attempt to destroy the revolutionary movement, especially the people’s army,” the CPP Central Committee said in its founding anniversary statement sent to the  Inquirer.

No raised alert

The CPP, which is marking its 43rd anniversary today (Monday), has been waging a “protracted war” against the government for the past four decades to establish a “national democratic” state.

The CPP added, “However, we continue to express our desire for peace negotiations in order to prevent the enemy from claiming falsely that we are not interested in a just and lasting peace and also to keep open the possibility that the enemy regime would be compelled by the crisis and/or by our significant victories in people’s war to seriously seek negotiations.”

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for its part sees no reason to raise its alert status as the CPP observes its 43rd anniversary, according to a spokesperson.

“The AFP is on white alert status and the general security situation prevailing around the country is normal,” Col. Arnulfo Burgos Jr. said.

He added, “While we shifted focus and poured the bulk of our resources and manpower on the ongoing relief and rehabilitation efforts in calamity-stricken areas in the country, particularly in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan, we continue to monitor activities of possible threats to the nation’s peace and stability.”

Last week, President Aquino announced an 18-day holiday ceasefire starting Dec. 16 until midnight of Jan. 3.

In return, the CPP ordered all NPA commands and units across the country to stop offensive operations against police and military forces starting from Dec. 24 up to midnight of Dec. 26, and on Dec. 31 up to midnight of Jan. 2.

The NPA staged two ambushes in Surigao del Sur that killed five soldiers and an elderly woman, and wounded 14 soldiers before it declared the six-day truce.

Last year, the CPP commemorated its 42nd anniversary with a parade by NPA guerrillas in San Agustin, Surigao del Sur.

On the same day, Jorge Madlos, the 63-year old spokesperson of the CPP’s political arm, the National Democratic Front, in Mindanao gave interviews to the media.