No reason for Reds to celebrate CPP anniversary, says Lorenzana

MANILA, Philippines—The Communist Party of the Philippines, which is marking its 52nd anniversary on Saturday (Dec. 26), has no reason to celebrate and instead should be ashamed of itself, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said.

Since it was founded more than five decades ago by Jose Maria Sison, the group never came close to achieving its aim of replacing a democratic government with a socialist leadership through its armed wing, the New People’s Army, Lorenzana said in a statement on Friday (Dec. 25).

“It is a total failure. Rather, it left a trail of death and destruction all over the country that continues to this day,” he said.

Lorenzana blamed the group for the killings of innocent civilians and government troops, recruitment of children to fight the government, destruction of property and massive extortion of businesses across the country.

“They have no reason to celebrate. In fact, they should be ashamed of what they have done to the Filipino people,” he said.

The defense secretary renewed his call for guerrillas to abandon their armed struggle, saying “they will never succeed” as Filipinos are not keen on believing communist propaganda and rhetoric.

He urged communist rebels to wok with the government instead. He also called on Filipinos to denounce the CPP and NPA.

In a statement earlier in the day, CPP said it will commemorate its anniversary with a  “simple but joyous” programs. It claimed it had already carried out a series of activities “right under the nose” of security forces.

Armed Forces spokesperson Maj. Gen. Edgard Arevalo said the military will continue its unrelenting operations to end the insurgency before the term of President Rodrigo Duterte ends in 2022.

“The big number of CPP central committee members and supporters who surrendered, arrested or killed when they shoot it out with security forces should have given them clear signals that there is nothing to celebrate,” he said.

TSB