WITH the peace talks between the Goverment of the Philippines (GPH) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP or simply NDF), I think it pays to write more about the underground movement. A day after the rest of us celebrated Christmas, the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) celebrated its 48th founding anniversary. This is also the occasion when the party's central committee issues a state of the national democratic revolution statement (a-la Sona).
Because of the peace talks and the unilateral holiday ceasefire declared by President Rodrigo Duterte from December 23 to 27 and December 31 to January 3, I reckon that a certain degree of openness attended the said celebration, which is done only by sympathizers, organized masses and party cadres. The ritual varies from place to place depending on the party influence and security condition.
In Cebu, I think the biggest CPP anniversary celebration happened in December 26, 1986 during the administration of Corazon Aquino when localized peace talks were held and a bilateral ceasefire was declared. The Cebu media covered that event, which was held in one of the city's mountain barangays. That was 30 years ago, which means that most of the reporters and cameramen who were have probably retired or are working in other fields now.
For the first time, the Cebu rebels showcased their armed capability. That was when waging armed struggle was still considered a good strategy for Cebu. Aside from a platoon of New People's Army (NPA) regulars with their long firearms, several armed city partisan units (also called “sparrows”) with their short firearms were present. The program featured revolutionary songs, dances and skits.
That was at the height of the rebellion in Cebu. When the peace talks broke down, an intense counter-insurgency operation was launched by the now defunct Philippine Constabulary-Integrated National Police (PC-INP) in Central Visayas headed by then Brig. Gen. Edgardo Abenina. The drive was continued by succeeding military commanders well into the '90s until the rebels' armed strength got sapped, prompting a reassessment of strategy.
The CPP's armed strength reached its peak in the '80s but has dwindled since then. That does not mean the CPP has been marginalized like previous administrations, notably that of Fidel V. Ramos, would want people to believe. As long as exploitation and oppression remains and injustice reigns, the struggle remains relevant. In a way, the Duterte administration is correct in reopening the peace talks mothballed by President Noynoy Aquino.
And CPP cadres are a resilient lot. After 48 years, the CPP's founding chairman Jose Ma. Sison is already a septuagenarian (he will turn 78 in February next year) but the party machinery has not conked out even if it is in the hands of relatively younger cadres and despite the setbacks it suffered throughout the decades. Its rebellion is considered Asia's longest running rebellion second only to that waged by Myanmar's Karen National Union.
This is what differentiates the CPP from the country's bourgeois political parties that pop out and then are gone. But will a negotiated political settlement finally end the struggle before the CPP's existence reaches half a century? That remains to be seen. It depends on how the GPH and the NDF conducts the peace talks and how the people will accept whatever agreement will be reached, if ever.
(khanwens@gmail.com/ twitter: @khanwens)