PRESS STATEMENT
July 7, 2015
The National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) Visayas denounces the AFP-CentCom’s declaration of municipalities, cities and provinces in the Visayas as “peaceful and development ready.” In truth, it is the Internal Peace and Security Plan Bayanihan, or commonly Oplan Bayanihan, that failed in curbing the armed strength of the New People’s Army (NPA) all over the country after it was launched in 2011.
It is ridiculous for the AFP-CentCom to call areas as “insurgency-free” when their very presence in these said areas disproves such claims. They continue their combat operations in the guise of “peace and development” activities. These military operations are targeted against the toiling masses to sow fear and discourage them from supporting the revolutionary armed struggle.
Last May 24, elements from the 11th Infantry Battalion brutally killed a peasant leader, Endric Calago, and his wife, Rosalie, at their home in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental.
This is not an isolated case as extra-judicial killings and other human rights violations are happening all over the country with the AFP as main perpetrators. Aside from political killings, political activists, even NDF consultants, are criminalized with trumped-up charges.
There are also cases where barrio folks are threatened and forced to admit their membership to the NPA and are then presented as surrenderees. These circumstances are exploited by military personnel as one of the sources of corruption in the ranks of the AFP.
These fascist measures are expected to get worse since the deadline of Oplan Bayanihan in 2016 is fast approaching. This has been historically proven by the long list of unsuccessful operational plans employed by the pro-imperialist regimes to end the national democratic revolution and destroy the Communist Party of the Philippines, the New People’s Army and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines.
To hide their humiliation due to Oplan Bayanihan’s failure, the US-Aquino II Regime with its Armed Forces exercise control over mass media to regulate reports on their unlawful activities, spread misleading propaganda against the revolutionary movement and block the news of victorious tactical offensives launched by the NPA.
In May 15, elements of the NPA successfully fired at a military detachment in barangay San Roque, Mabini, Bohol. But the AFP-Centcom kept mum on the incident because this invalidates their long-time proud declaration of Bohol Island as “insurgency-free.”
The revolutionary movement continues to grow in strength despite the desperate efforts of the Noynoy Aquino-led ruling class to wipe it out. It will ascertain the defeat of Oplan Bayanihan with the warm support of the Filipino masses and people. The worsening semi-feudal and semi-colonial crisis and the fascist character of the ruling system ensure the victory of the new democratic revolution.
Pax Enguerra
NDFP Visayas Media Liaison