Ex-rebels doubt sincerity of CPP/NPA/NDF in peace talks
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Even former rebels have come out in the open expressing their doubts on the sincerity of the communist
National Democratic Front (NDF) for imposing conditions for the resumption of peace negotiations with the
government.
“No such conditions should hamper the peace efforts,” said Krestoric C. Magbanua, spokesman of the 69-
strong newly-formed Confederation of Advocates for Development and Reform (CADRE) Former for Peace and
Progress, an organization composed of former rebels of the New People’s Army (NPA), the armed wing of the
Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).
CADRE is now working hand-in-hand with the government for peace and progress after its members decided
to lay downs their arms to avail of the government’s Social Integration Program (SIP) that extends livelihood to
rebel returnees.
“From its inception, the CPP-NPA-NDF had no intention of brokering peace with the government,” Magbanua
said at the sidelights of the Army Social Responsibility for Peace and Progress Symposium at Fort Bonifacio in
suburban, Taguig, Metro Manila on Saturday (12 September).
Magbanua, a former NPA political officer and organizer of urban poor and labor unions, said that the strategy of
exiled CPP chairman Jose Ma. Sison, who is living inThe Netherlands has been “we-talk-and-we-fight, fight-
and-talk”
Resumption of the stalled peace talks between the government and the NDF was supposed to be held in
Oslo, Norway last Aug. 28, but this was put off after the NDF panel made another demand a few before the
negotiations could start.
Moreover, Magbanua pointed out that even before the communist leadership demanded for the release of 10
or 12 more from their top echelon as precondition for the talks, CADRE was already disheartened upon
learning of the government decision to release the first Elizabeth Principe and Randall Echanis.
Contradicting news reports that Principe was only a low-key leftist, Magbanua said she was in fact the
secretary of the Ilocos-Cordillera communist committee. He said Echanis for his part was the regional section
chief of the Eastern Visayas command.
It may be recalled that the talks bogged down in 2005 when the NDF unilaterally withdrew from the
negotiations after the United States and the European Union (EU) tagged the NPA as a terrorist organization.
According to Magbanua, the CPP/NPA/NDF has again laid down conditions for the resumption of the stalled
talks.
Magbanua warned that their former comrades are just “capitalizing upon” the peace talks but in reality they will
“consolidate their dwindling forces.”
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said that the NPA fighting strength at present is about 5,000, down
from a peak of 25,600 in 1985.
The AFP is confident of cutting further the NPA fighting force before President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ends
her term mid next year.
The former rebels said the strategy of the CPP/NPA/NDF has always been to “wage protracted guerrilla
warfare” against the government.
The 30-year-old Magbanua, a former student activist and union organizer formerly based in Laguna, said the
communist movement has been “experiencing a continuous downward trend” in its declining membership
even as it tries to “rebound” its recruitment of members.
He said the CPP-NPA-NDF is just using the negotiations with the government to make “elbow room” for their
organizational and ideological purposes.
In his PowerPoint presentation on CADRE during the symposium, Magbanua also called on government
agencies for consultations to highlight the concerns of former rebels in their return to civilian life as peaceful
and productive citizens.
He also said the government peace panel negotiating with the communists should also include their
concerns as ex-rebels if not their representation during any talk with their former comrades.
According to Magbanua, ex-rebels like them at CADRE “can better comprehend” any negotiation with the
leaders of the CPP-NPA-NDF.
A total of at least 69 former rebels comprising of CADRE members from Central Luzon to the Bicol region
attended the workshop at Fort Bonifacio last week pushing for peace and progress.
Another 300 other representatives from the women and youth sectors based in Metro Manila and Quezon
province also participated in the workshop-symposium.
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