THE New People’s Army (NPA) dedicated the celebration of the 50th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)-NPA-National Democratic Front (NDF) Wednesday, December 26, to the nine farmers who were brutally murdered in Sagay City, Negros Occidental two months ago.
Ka Juanito Magbanua, spokesperson of the NPA-Apolinario Gatmaitan Command (NPA-AGC), in a press statement Wednesday, said the rebel group believed that the slain workers were killed by armed elements of the state and the despotic landlords who rule the island, a statement which the government forces earlier denied, blaming the incident to the rebels.
The rebels also said they considered Negros as one of the starkest prototypes of mass exploitation in the world due to the persistence of the hacienda system.
Thousands of revolutionary forces and allies in the region assembled in undisclosed locations within the region’s guerrilla fronts to commemorate the outstanding achievements in its 50-year war of resistance against the U.S. imperialism and of genuinely serving the people; of being the standard bearer of the interests and longing of the toiling masses for genuine freedom and social liberation, the statement said.
Magbanua led the raising of fist in Red salute to all revolutionary forces in the island and to all progressive and patriotic Negrense people.
The revolutionary forces in Negros are confident it can fight and defeat the “total war” Oplan Kapayapaan campaign of President Rodrigo Duterte’s regime, Magbanua said.
“Apolinario Gatmaitan, Leonardo Panaligan, Roselyn Jean Pelle, Armando Sumayang Jr., and Rachelle Mae Palang should keep our will to serve the people and the revolution ever burning and explosive,” he said.
Another highlight of the celebration was a stage play depicting the history of the CPP in Negros, among a wide variety of cultural presentations, including song, dance, and drama performed by members of the Kabataang Makabayan.
NDF Philippines-Negros spokesperson Ka Frank Fernandez also conveyed his greetings through a written message, citing the experiences of the genesis of the Party in Negros and the obstacles and struggles overcome during the Second Great Rectification Movement.
Also, a solidarity night was held in the evening prior to the activity, where the youth of the Kabataang Makabayan and soldiers of the NPA showcased their talents in a wide variety of cultural presentations.
Condemnation rally
As this developed, about 1,000 people joined the condemnation rally against the violence of the NPA held at the Negros Occidental Multi-Purpose Activity Center (Nompac) in Bacolod City on Wednesday.
Dressed in black, former rebels, their families, and victims, who were also holding placards, from different areas in Negros Occidental, expressed their agony against the suppression of rebels in the province.
They all condemned the atrocities perpetrated by the NPA in the province for five decades now.
Some of them shared their experiences and made revelations about the communist groups.
According to a 60-year-old former rebel, he left the group because he felt guilty about the extortion activities and deceitful ill motives of the rebels in the community.
He believed that the rebel group has nothing good to do in the community.
Another former rebel urged the people to never be deceived by the rebels’ actions.
They should not be afraid of them, he added.
A candle lighting ceremony was also held to call for peace and to urge the community to never get influenced by NPA.
For his part, Colonel Benedict Arevalo, commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army based in Murcia, said the CPP-NPA-NDF is either dreaming or hallucinating as they claim victory for the 50 years of their useless struggle.
“It is so sad that the CPP-NPA-NDF is celebrating with delight to their hearts content the destruction and misery that they have caused our country and people for the last 50 years and they are also so proud of declaring that they will continue to wreak havoc to our society for the coming years,” he added.
Fifty years of lies is just too much for the people to take, he added.
“It is definitely not a day of celebration. It is a day of condemnation and mourning for the deaths and destruction that the CPP-NPA-NDF perpetrated against the people and humanity,” Arevalo said.
Indeed, the CPP-NPA-NDF is shamelessly pathetic, he added.
In Mabinay, Negros Oriental, hundreds of local folks joined the peace rally at the town plaza, condemning CPP-NPA’s 50 years of atrocities victimizing innocent and defenseless Negrenses Wednesday.
They all carried placards expressing grave sentiments against the CPP-NPA which clearly showed that they are already fed up with the communist-terrorist group’s cruelty.
The said peace rally was organized by various peace advocates in Negros Oriental and supported by the Army’s 94th Infantry Battalion (IB).
Lieutenant Colonel Carlo Ferrer, commander of the 94th IB, said the activity is a strong indication of the people’s intense desire to end CPP-NPA’s 50 years of savagery.
This is also a “big boost” to our campaign against CPP-NPA since the local folks are now the ones condemning and taking action against the communist-terrorist group,” he added.