Although they all agree on the return of peace talks, 2022 presidential candidates Ka Leody de Guzman, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., Ernesto Abella, and Norberto Gonzales have different views on whether the Communist rebels should be considered friends or enemies. Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA).
They clarified this issue in the recent SMNI presidential debates Tuesday, something prepared by the media network of the controversial Pastor Apollo Quiboloy.
The panelist raised the issue while the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), known for red-tagging by legal groups and government critics in addition to spreading misinformation, is in the audience.
Although De Guzman-who also introduces himself as a socialist as the CPP-NPA-does not agree with the armed struggle being waged by the latter, the labor leader insists that the communists take up arms in response to historical exploitation and not to sow seeds of horror to the public.
According to Ka Leody, there must be true democracy in the Philippines, not only for the rich, if the government is sincere in ending the insurgency.
BBM says CPP-NPA enemy of the state
Bongbong, the son of dictator Marcos, has the opposite view. It will be recalled that the CPP (1968) and NPA (1969) were formed under “Macoy,” and membership swelled during the Martial Law era (1972).
“Ang depenisyon ng terorista ay ‘yung nagdadala ng violence sa mga non-combatant kung tawagin, na mga sibilyan. Kaya sila [tinawag] na terorista,” said BBM.
“Papaano naman natin papayagan at sasabihin na tumutulong sa atin o kaibigan natin ang isang grupo na nambobomba at namamaril hindi lamang [sa] sundalo o mga pulis kung hindi ang isang football player na walang kinalaman [sa digmaan]… Sa palagay ko wala tayong ibang maaaring sabihin kung hindi tratuhin sila na kalaban dahil kinakalaban tayo.”
Bongbong referred to the issue of the death of FEU football player Keith Absalon and cousin Nolven after being blown up while cycling in Masbate.
Despite this, CPP information officer Marco Valbuena apologized for the death of the Absalons, something they said was unintentional and happened due to “errors” in the offensive conducted by the NPA unit in barangay Anas.
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