AROUND 2,000 former members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) gathered at the Freedom Park in Tagum City, Davao del Norte, on Saturday, March 29, 2025 for the "Kalinaw ug Kalambuan, Singgit sa katawhan!" rally, aimed at rejecting the insurgency and condemning CPP-NPA-NDF’s alleged exploitation of elections to further its agenda.
The rally, organized by Kalinaw Southeastern Mindanao (KSM) Inc., saw former rebels who have reintegrated into society calling for an end to the violent tactics of the CPP-NPA-NDF and their manipulation of the democratic process.
KSM members, who have partnered with the government in the fight against insurgency, also highlighted their role in helping the Davao Region achieve an insurgency-free status.
In a statement, the organization’s members reflected on their past experiences within the insurgent group and revealed how the CPP-NPA-NDF uses elections to further its goals.
"As former rebels, we are all aware of the tactics of the CPP-NPA-NDF in using elections to recruit, strengthen, and recover," the statement read.
The group also exposed how the insurgents use elections as a tool to gather resources, fund candidates, and exert influence over government actions, claiming that many of these candidates secretly serve the group's interests.
KSM also voiced their opposition to several political parties and groups they accuse of being aligned with the insurgents, including Bayan Muna, Kabataan Partylist, ACT Teachers Partylist, Gabriela Women’s Partylist, and Health Workers Partylist. The group also identified several individuals it claimed were linked to the CPP-NPA-NDF, accusing them of supporting the insurgent group’s agenda in government.
This includes Liza Maza, Jerome Adonis, Jocelyn Andamo, Ronnel Arambulo, Rep. Arlene Brosas, Rep. France Castro, Mody Floranda, Teddy Casiño, Mimi Doringo, Amirah Lidasan, and Danilo Ramos.
"We have indeed turned our backs on the violence of armed struggle and the dictatorship of the CPP-NPA-NDF, but we have not betrayed the masses," KSM asserted. They defended their position against accusations of betrayal, questioning who the real traitors were.
The former rebels also criticized the CPP-NPA-NDF for abandoning their original principles, accusing the group of corruption.
KSM argued that the insurgents' alliances with the so-called “ruling class” were signs of desperation.
"This only shows that, first of all, they have become utterly corrupt, as they are now willing to trade their principles for money or personal interest," the statement declared. "Secondly, the true state of our former organizations is being laid on display — they are now desperate and extremely weak, to the point where they must compromise their fundamental principles merely to sustain themselves amid the harsh reality of absent mass support."
Despite the challenges they continue to face, KSM reaffirmed their commitment to the government’s peace initiatives and emphasized their role in helping address the root causes of unrest.
"We carry decades of knowledge, skills, and experience in mobilizing the masses to achieve their interests, and we must now use these within the framework of the law and our democratic rights," the group stated.
According to Kalinaw, the march in Tagum City serves as a powerful declaration from former insurgents now working to expose the CPP-NPA-NDF’s tactics, rejecting their methods, and supporting the government’s efforts to create a more peaceful society. DEF