Based
on the records of Karapatan (Alliance for the Advancement of Peoples’
Rights), Bayan Muna (People First) is the organization with the highest
number of members killed with 124. The total number of individuals
killed since 2001 have reached an alarming 830, with a member of Bayan
Muna Dominador de Luna as the latest victim. Victims of enforced
disappearances have reached 192.
Failure
The
paper traced the policies of the government affecting its
counterinsurgency program starting with the repeal of the
Anti-Subversion Law in 1992. It also said that the partylist system
(Republic Act 7941) was enacted into law in 1995 “in the hope that
eventually, the Communists would give up their armed struggle.”
It
said that while the government has forced the exile of the CPP’s top
leaders in Western countries, this was “compensated by the rise of front
organizations in mainstream politics.” It alleged that the partylist
system “allowed organizations linked with CPP to seek election.”
According to the paper, “As of the last 2004 elections, seven partylists
believed to be CPP front organizations have entered Congress. Government
is looking at reports that Congressional funds are being siphoned to the
NPAs. At present, these partylists are deeply involved in the
multi-front destabilization drive against the government.”
Inadvertently, the paper said the government’s ploy to drag the CPP into
politics to make them abandon armed struggle has failed miserably.
“Recent trends of NPA operations reveal there is no intention to give up
the armed struggle.
Since
2000, the results of NPA tactical engagements have been showing
improvement. 2005 was probably the worst year for the government,” the
paper admitted.
Front organizations
In
early 2005, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) circulated a
powerpoint presentation “Knowing the Enemy” and a book entitled “Trinity
of War” where it named Bayan Muna, Anakpawis and Gabriela Women’s Party,
among others, as front organizations of the CPP, its armed wing the New
People’s Army (NPA), and its umbrella organization the National
Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).
Both
the presentation and the book accused the three partylist groups of
siphoning funds to the NPA, similar to what was written in the NISP
briefing paper.
The
Department of Budget and Management (DBM) admitted that it has stopped
releasing funds to Bayan Muna since 2005.
Deputy
Minority Leader and Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo, in an interview with
Bulatlat, said that as a consequence of the withholding of funds,
their projects have been stopped. Regrettably, he said, the funds the
three partylist groups give to government hospitals for the benefit of
indigents are fast drying up.
“They
are depriving our constituents of funds that are rightfully theirs,”
said Ocampo.
To
augment the medical assistance fund for their constituents, Ocampo said,
Bayan Muna has asked support from the Department of Social Welfare and
Development (DSWD) and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).
Five offensives
To
give a final blow to what the government calls a “communist-terrorist
rebellion,” the NISP paper identified “five offensives” which consist of
military, legal, political, economic and strategic communications.
As
part of its legal offensive, the paper said, the government “filed
rebellion charges against six partylist leaders who conspired with the
Magdalo group in an ouster plan,” apparently referring to Bayan Muna
Reps. Satur Ocampo, Teddy Casino and Joel Virador, Anakpawis Reps.
Rafael Mariano, Crispin Beltran and lone GWP Rep. Liza Maza.
In the
NISP paper, it said “they (partylist groups) have successfully
infiltrated the opposition ranks, plotting and conspiring to cause the
fall of the government.”
Beltran was arrested Feb. 25, 2006, a day after Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
declared a state of national emergency through Presidential Proclamation
1017 or PP 1017. On the other hand, the other five partylist
representatives were held in House custody for more than three months
after warrants for their arrests were issued by the Department of
Justice (DoJ).
The
rebellion case filed against them is still pending in court.
As
part of its economic offensive, the NISP said, the “first thrust is to
deny the enemy access to funds and resources.”
Ocampo
said this may be the reason why Bayan Muna’s funds have been withheld by
the DBM.
Election campaign continues
Despite successive killings of their regional and provincial officers
and members nationwide, especially in areas where Bayan Muna garnered
most of its votes in the 2004 elections namely, Samar-Leyte, Bicol,
Central Luzon and Southern Tagalog, Ocampo said, they will continue to
openly campaign once the campaign period begins in February 14.
Ocampo
admitted though that in some areas the free movement of their leaders
free are gravely affected by intense military operations. “To some
degree their ability to campaign is affected,” he said. They are
following specific security guidelines to avoid being killed by the
military, he added.
As of
the time of the interview with Bulatlat, Ocampo shared that there
has been no physical threat yet to his security. “Magkakasubukan pa
lang kami pag nagsimula na ang actual campaign,” (We will test each
other out when the actual election campaign starts.) he said. “If the
soldiers are in the communities and they will stop us from campaigning
or stop the people from joining our miting de avance (election
campaign meeting), I will confront them. We will build evidence that the
military is guilty of partisan politics,” he said. Bulatlat
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