NSC: Reds still bent on overthrowing govt

THE National Security Council (NSC) yesterday said it “very perplexed and disappointed” over the recent statement of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) that seeks to further advance its armed struggle amid efforts to revive peace negotiations.

In a press briefing, NSC assistant director general and spokesman Jonathan Malaya said the CPP appears to be determined in efforts to “regroup and rebuild,” instead of preparing for the peace talks.

The CPP, in a statement issued on its 55th foundation anniversary on December 26, called for a “rectification movement” which aims to address and resolve the “long running weaknesses and errors” that have “impeded and stunted” their growth.

The CPP also called for the strengthening of the New People’s Army, its armed wing, through establishment of additional guerrilla fronts, guerrilla zones and base areas in mountainous areas, and for the launching of “basic or annihilative tactical offensives” against “isolated and detached units of the enemy.”

The CPP statement came a month after the government and the CPP signed a joint communiqué in which the two sides agreed to a “principled and peaceful resolution of the armed conflict.”

The joint communiqué states that “resolving the roots of the armed conflict and ending the armed struggle shall pave the way for the transformation of the CPP-NPA-NDFP.”

The two sides also agreed to come up with a framework that will set priorities for the peace negotiation towards a just and lasting peace.

“Instead of a rectification movement abandoning the arm struggle and preparing for the NPA’s transformation provided in the Oslo communiqué, the CPP instead has called for a rectification movement, doubling down on its commitment to carry forward the armed struggle,” said Malaya.

Malaya said the CPP statement goes against what has been agreed on by the two sides in the joint communiqué which he said states the communist movement’s full commitment to ending armed struggle and sincerity to peace talks.

“If you are going to read the statement of the CPP, they are still determined to regroup and rebuild what remains of its forces, to continue its protracted war in hopes of achieving its end goal