60^th Leyte Landing Anniversary
Liberation From What?

The 60^th Leyte Landing Anniversary was used by the powers-that-be as an occasion to denounce the communists, branding them as domestic terrorists who must be crushed. They conveniently forget, however, that the Filipino guerillas played a pivotal role in the resistance against foreign invaders in the late 19^th century and beyond. In the process, the need to identify the real enemy is also stressed.

BY MAUREEN JAPZON
Bulatlat

TACLOBAN CITY – The enemy is not outside but inside.

In her speech that marked the 60^th Leyte Landing Anniversary last Oct. 20 at MacArthur Memorial Park Palo Leyte, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said, “The primary war today is not against a foreign invader but rather the enemy within, especially the communist insurgents and the other terrorist.”

The Leyte Landing is commemorated yearly in the eastern part of Leyte, central Philippines to highlight the supposed liberation of the country from the Japanese Imperial Army.

“In this war, we are greatly assisted by our continuing partnership with allies of the Leyte Landing especially by the United States…We will put down the terrorist by the sword at the same time we seek to turn the rebel’s sword into plowshares,” she added. She stressed that the Philippines and the U.S. will “continue to conduct joint-military exercises… to further hone our capabilities against terrorism.”

Macapagal-Arroyo, along with foreign dignitaries from Australia, United Kingdom, New Zealand and United States represented by Ambassador Francis J. Ricciardone, attended the 60^th Leyte Gulf Landing Anniversary. They all affirmed the continued friendship among allied powers that fought Japan during World War II.

In the message read by Ricciardone, U.S. President George Bush said that the Leyte Landing is the central event in the long friendship between the people of the Philippines and the United States wherein many lives were sacrificed for the cause of freedom.

For her part, Macapagal-Arroyo renewed her unwavering commitment to fight terrorism. She said that the country’s bilateral relation to the government of the United States is stronger than before. She thanked the U.S. for the latter’s pledge to send 13 helicopters, as well as P4 billion ($71.03 million, based on an exchange rate of P56.315 per US dollar) worth of assistance for reforms in the Philippine military.

Liberation for whom?

In an interview, Melvin Anino, secretary-general of the local chapter of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN, or New Patriotic Alliance), said that the government seemingly forgets the essence of guerrilla resistance against imperialist war in this historical event.

“Notwithstanding the historical truth and political beliefs, the government neglects the role taken by the Hukbalahap (Hukbong Bayan Laban sa Hapon or Armed Force Against the Japanese) in the resistance against foreign invaders,” Anino stressed.

By glorifying the role of Gen. Douglas MacArthur, he said, “GMA and the previous regimes have consciously buried the Filipino guerrillas’ strategic role in the liberation movement,” Anino continued.

“The descendants of Hukbalahap communists who are instrumental for whatever political freedoms and civil liberties we experience today, are ironically the communists whom Arroyo is setting out to destroy in her present plan,” Anino also said.

On the other hand, Alex Lagunzad, secretary-general of Katungod-Sinirangan Bisayas (Eastern Visayas chapter of Karapatan or Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights), raised the possibility of an increase in human rights violations.

“Waray pa ito nga iya all-out war, pero 20 na an ginpatay nga sibilyan dara han Oplan Kalinaw Bisayas han militar “(Even before the planned all-out war, there had already been 20 victims of summary executions from the Operational Plan Peace in the Visayas of the military), Lagunzad said. Bulatlat

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