WITH the nearing collapse of the decades-long communist insurgency in Southern Mindanao, four former high-ranking leaders of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) are urging a shift in national consciousness from armed rebellion to meaningful reform.
The former insurgents, once key players in the underground movement, are now calling on the public and policymakers to reflect on what led to the decline of the armed struggle and what can be learned to avoid repeating the same mistakes.
Ida Marie Montero, formerly known as “Ka Mandy” and ex-secretary of the NPA’s Sub-Regional Committee 5, admitted that the CPP in the region had lost ideological direction.
She said internal cracks and growing disillusionment among members became increasingly visible since 2017.
“Even the former rebels and the masses now see how misguided the armed struggle has become,” she said in an interview with the former-cadre-led group Kontra-Kwento.
Montero emphasized the need for a transition toward peace, urging young Filipinos to pursue change without violence.
“Real freedom must be found through peaceful means,” she said.
Former NPA commander Joey “Ka Yoyong” Billones echoed Montero’s sentiments, citing the loss of public support and internal fatigue.
He pointed out that the insurgency’s downfall was inevitable without its mass base.
"The NPA is like a fish without water. It cannot survive without the people," he said, adding that the recent dismantling of the Jaguar unit only highlighted the rebels' dwindling resilience.
Billones called on active fighters to leave the armed struggle and return to their families. “Reconnecting with loved ones is not betrayal—it’s healing,” he said.
Meanwhile, former CPP leaders Arian Jane Ramos and Joy James Saguino emphasized reflection over retaliation. Reacting to recent arrests and deaths of young rebels, they underscored the need to address the societal gaps that push youth toward extremism.
“Let this not be a moment of vengeance, but of reflection,” Ramos said, urging the government to build systems that empower, not alienate, young people.
Saguino, recalling her days with slain rebel Chaba Bañez, warned against the unchecked passion of youth being weaponized.
“That fire, if left uncontrolled, can destroy the very person who carries it,” she said.
Both Ramos and Saguino urged government institutions, including Congress, to crack down on legal fronts that enable the CPP-NPA's recruitment operations, while also providing viable civic alternatives to young activists.
As Kontra-Kwento pushes to expose the lived realities of insurgency, the former rebels insist that the true victory lies not only in military triumph but in the nation’s ability to listen, reform, and heal. DEF