A former high-ranking official of the New People's Army (NPA), who once led insurgency operations across vast areas of Mindanao, has expressed concern over the arrest of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (FPRRD), calling it a victory for the Makabayan Bloc. This coalition of progressive party-lists has long been accused of having ties to insurgent and communist movements in the Philippines since 2009.
Turning point
Arian Jane Ramos, now president of Kalinaw Southeastern Mindanao and now a government ally, stated in an interview with SunStar Davao that the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) order to arrest Duterte—with the help of the International Police Criminal Organization (Interpol) on March 11—marks a pivotal moment for the Communist Party of the Philippines, New People's Army, and National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF), which viewed him as their fiercest adversary.
“Duterte’s arrest by the ICC is a significant victory for the CPP-NPA-NDF, as he was their biggest enemy—his administration dealt the heaviest blows to their movement, drastically weakening their forces through sustained military operations, localized peace engagements, and legal crackdowns,” she said in a phone interview on March 13, 2025. “Since he won the presidency, the CPP-NPA has suffered massive surrenders, operational setbacks, and the loss of key leaders. Now, with his arrest, the CPP-NPA-NDF will use this as a rallying point to justify their resurgence, portraying it as vindication for their cause.”
'Ka Marikit'
Ramos, formerly known by her alias "Ka Marikit," was recruited into the communist movement in early 2012 through Gabriela Youth at the University of the Philippines (UP) Mindanao. She later became the secretary of Guerrilla Front (GF) 55, Sub-Regional Committee 5 (SRC) of the Southern Mindanao Regional Command (SMRC), leading armed encounters in Talaingod, Davao del Norte.
She warned that the Makabayan Bloc, which she described as the CPP-NPA-NDF’s political arm, is now working to capitalize on Duterte’s arrest.
“They have long pushed the ICC case and will now intensify their efforts to use it for political mileage, especially with upcoming elections," she said. "We can expect them to amplify their narrative, leveraging human rights and transitional justice issues to gain sympathy, recruit more members, and infiltrate policymaking spaces.”
A challenge for government
A second-year law student, Ramos also cautioned that this development could reignite the armed and political activities of the CPP-NPA-NDF. "The challenge for the government is to ensure that this moment does not allow the CPP-NPA-NDF to regain lost ground while upholding the rule of law and preventing further destabilization,” she said. Ramos, who was once indoctrinated into the communist movement, had been tasked with teaching young recruits, many of whom were Indigenous Peoples (IPs) from the area.
Communist allies in Congress?
Ramos has been vocal about her past within the CPP and has publicly named members of the Makabayan Bloc whom she claims have affiliations with the organization, which is designated as a terrorist group by the United States, European Union, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.
Among those she identified were Gabriela Representative Arlene Brosas, Kabataan Representative Raoul Manuel, and ACT Teachers Representative France Castro. She highlighted Castro’s conviction in the Talaingod 18 case, which involved the trafficking of 14 Lumad students in violation of Republic Act 7610 (the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act). The students had been taken from the Salugpongan Ta Tanu Ingkanogan Community Learning Center Inc. in Talaingod, Davao del Norte.
Ramos claimed that Manuel led recruitment efforts at UP and participated in NPA-led integration programs. She pointed out that while these individuals enjoy the privileges of being lawmakers, they continue to deny their CPP affiliations despite their alleged roles in its operations.
Denial
Despite Ramos’s accusations, members of the Makabayan Bloc have consistently denied any ties to the CPP-NPA-NDF. They argue that their work in Congress focuses on advocating for marginalized sectors and that allegations linking them to insurgent groups are politically motivated and unsubstantiated.
The Makabayan Bloc is a coalition of 12 party-list groups representing workers, peasants, Indigenous Peoples, migrants, children’s rights, government employees, drivers, the environment, Bicolanos, and the Moro community. While its members have faced scrutiny over alleged ties to communist insurgents, they maintain that they are independent political entities.
Declared as terrorists
In 2017, then-President Duterte signed Proclamation No. 374, declaring the CPP-NPA a terrorist organization under Republic Act No. 10168 (the Human Security Act). This designation extended to any individuals or groups found to be supporting or financing the CPP-NPA’s activities.
The move enabled the government to take stricter actions against suspected affiliates and intensified efforts to dismantle the communist insurgency.
Duterte’s proclamation also led the Department of Foreign Affairs to officially recognize the CPP-NPA as a terrorist group under Philippine law, reinforcing counterinsurgency operations nationwide.
Debates
Duterte’s arrest has reignited debates on justice and human rights in the Philippines. Now detained in The Hague, Netherlands, he faces trial for alleged crimes against humanity related to his administration’s war on drugs.
Lawmakers from the Makabayan Bloc welcomed the development, calling it a vital step toward justice for victims of extrajudicial killings (EJKs). Some even suggested that Vice President Sara Duterte could be next.
Gabriela Women’s Partylist Rep. Arlene Brosas urged the Marcos administration to ensure Duterte remains in ICC custody and that families of victims can safely participate in the trial.
“The arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte for crimes against humanity is a critical step toward justice for the countless victims of his violent war on drugs, particularly the children whose lives were destroyed by his ruthless policies,” Brosas said.
She named several children who were allegedly victims of extrajudicial killings—Kian Delos Santos, Joshua Laxamana, Althea Barbon, Myca Ulpina, Angelito Soriano, Jones Segovia, and Sonny Espinosa—saying, “These children should have been in school, dreaming of their futures, instead of being buried as victims of state-sponsored violence.”
“While this cannot bring back the lives lost, Duterte’s arrest is a step toward holding him accountable for the countless human rights abuses committed during his presidency,” she added. DEF