Tiamzons arrest has short-term effect on CPP-NPA – Satur Ocampo

National Democratic Front co-founder and former Bayan Muna party-list representative Satur Ocampo, though admitting that the arrest of Communist Party of the Philippines and New People's Army leaders Benito and Wilma Tiamzon was a setback to the communist movement, claimed the effect would only be in the short term.

“Nangyari yan [pagaresto sa lider ng CPP-NPA] noong 1977 nung naaresto si Joma Sison,” Ocampo said in an Tuesday interview on GMA News TV's “News To Go”.



“Nangyari uli yan nung 1986 nang maaresto si Rodolfo Salas na sinasabing ang pumalit na chairman ng CPP-NPA. Pero nagpatuloy naman, may replenishment. So ganyan din ang dadaanang proseso nito sa kasalukuyang panahon.”

Benito and Wilma Tiamzon were arrested by Philippine military and police units in Cebu, Saturday afternoon after a two-month surveillance. Security forces have identified Benito as the chairman of CPP-NPA, and Wilma as the secretary general.

Ocampo said that the effect of the arrest will only be on the tactical level.

He also denied that the NPA would carry out retaliatory attacks because of the arrest. “Gawa-gawa yan ng military. Hindi naman ganyan ang gawi ng NPA na kung may maaresto ay gaganti, hindi naman nangyari yan sa nakaraan,” scoffed Ocampo.

He also warned that the communist movement will continue as long as the government fails to address the needs of the people.

“Mayroong napapatay, may sumusurrender pero narereplenish. Kasi, yung dahilan ng paglaban sa gobyerno, yung root causes na tinutukoy din ni Pangulong Aquino, ay nandyan pa rin. Hindi pa nareresolba kaya importante na i-address ang mga iyon,” he said.

Ocampo, however, believes it would better for the NDF and the government to return to the negotiating table instead of trading arguments over Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG).

The NDF has claimed that the Tiamzons were consultants in the peace talks, and should therefore be released. It is a claim the government officials have denied.

In December of 2013, the CPP central committee said it would no longer engage in peace talks with the administration of President Benigno Aquino III.

‘Hindi nila inaasahan na mahuhuli si Tiamzon’

However, in a separate “News To Go” interview, a former member of the communist movement, Ricardo Malay, confirmed that the Tiamzons were the chairman and secretary general of the CPP-NPA, contrary to the claims of the NDFP.



Malay also believes the CPP might have a hard time replacing Tiamzon.

“Hindi alam ang magsa-succeed kay Tiamzon bilang chairman, kasi kung susundin ang kalakaran, eh mage-elect ng chairman yung central committee. Pero papano mag-eelect, hindi alam kung sino yung central committee members na mag e-elect,” Malay explained.

“Hindi nila inaasahan na mahuhuli si Tiamzon dahil, ayon sa government, ay matagal nang minamanmanan,” he added

Their arrest could also be an indication of a weakening movement.

“Makikita na ang isang rebolusyonaryong kilusan ay matatag kung hindi nahuhuli ang liderato nila. Pero sa CPP at NPA, ilang beses nang nahuhuli ang mga lider nila,” he said.

He enumerated victorius communist leaders who were never arrested: Vladimir Lenin of Russia, Fidel Castro of Cuba and Mao Tse-Tung of China.

“Hindi sila nahuli hanggang nagtagumpay ang mga rebolusyon na ito. Pero ang CPP revolution, nakatatlong chairman na ang nahuhuli,” he said. — Amita Legaspi/DVM, GMA News