BY DABET CASTAÑEDA
Bulatlat

A National Internal Security Program (NISP) briefing paper dated May 5, 2006, a copy of which was obtained by Bulatlat from reliable sources, bared a systematic campaign by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) directed against partylist groups tagged by the government as “communist front organizations.”

Entitled “Ending Four Decades of Communist Rebellion: RP Government’s Counterinsurgency Thrusts,” the paper presented the AFP’s analysis of “the Communist insurgency situation and presents the government’s counterinsurgency strategy.”

Interestingly, the paper discussed how the alleged entry of the Communist Party of the Philippine’s (CPP) into mainstream politics “through partylist representations at the Lower House” had bolstered its armed struggle, an accusation assailed by progressive partylist representatives as a careless and irresponsible excuse to malign, kill, abduct, forcibly disappear and harass their members and officers.

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

© 2007 Bulatlat ■  Alipato Publications

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