CPP issues guidelines for politicians going into ‘Red areas’
File photo of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA). CPP recruitment activities have been observed in 102 educational institutions nationwide since 2014, according to an official of the Philippine National Police (PNP). INQUIRER / ERWIN MASCARIÑAS
ILIGAN CITY— Although it does not believe in the democratic underpinnings of the country’s elections, the remaining communist rebels, nevertheless, have chosen to make themselves felt during this year’s political exercise.
In a statement on Thursday, the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) ordered its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA), to enforce a set of policies supposedly designed to “protect people’s welfare” in the course of the electoral battle.
“The reactionary midterm election campaign is now underway with big warlords and political dynasties locking each other’s horns, trampling on the people’s welfare with their armed goons, police and military forces, as they fight for the spoils of the bureaucrat capitalist regime,” said a CPP statement issued by Marco Valbuena, its chief information officer.
“The CPP, NPA, and mass organizations affiliated with the National Democratic Front do not take part in the elections. From their revolutionary vantage, the Party provides critical analyses and insights into the reactionary elections, while highlighting the outstanding economic and political issues of the people and underscoring the need for them to collectively fight for their national and democratic interests,” the CPP added.
READ: Poll candidates told: No cash for CPP, NPA or face rebellion raps
Article continues after this advertisementValbuena said that among others, “politicians are prohibited from bringing armed goons and police and military escorts that usually serve to intimidate the people.”
Article continues after this advertisement“Other forms of coercion, use of armed violence will not be tolerated, especially by bureaucrat capitalists who use public funds against the people. The NPA has standing orders to seize the weapons of candidates and their armed goons,” he added.
“Before conducting their campaigns in the revolutionary areas, politicians are required to inform and coordinate with local NPA units. This coordination is crucial to avoid any incidents, including confrontations between armed goons of rival politicians,” he further said.
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Only candidates and their supporters who will abide by these guidelines, according to Valbuena, will be allowed to conduct campaigns in communities within the “revolutionary areas of operation.”
In the past, the NPA had set a permit to campaign, which required some form of financial fee and recognition of its political dominance, over certain geographic areas of the country.
After years of relentless campaign, the military has considered the NPA as already an insignificant force in many parts of the country. Ryan D. Rosauro INQ
