Palace belies claim CPP-NPA growing strong in Mindanao

Malacañang on Sunday belied the claim of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army that the rebels' influence in eastern Mindanao has been expanding.

In an interview on state-run dzRB radio, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said, "Walang katotohanan ang propaganda ng CPP-NPA hinggil [sa usaping iyan]."

Citing data from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Coloma said the CPP-NPA capability has declined on four aspects: number of members, areas of influence, number of guns, and guerrilla fronts.

Coloma said the AFP's records during the 4th Quarter of 2015 showed:

- CPP-NPA members were down to 1,691 in Q4 2015 from 2,035 in same period in 2014;
- the number of barangays affected by communist rebels' activities was down to 414 from 547;
- NPA firearms were at 2,232 from 2,383 in Q4 of 2014; and
- the number of guerrilla fronts were at 24 in Q4 2015 from 29 in Q4 2014.

Moreover, Coloma said the marked decline in the rebels' capability has prompted the CPP-NPA to resort to extortion activities, including the so-called "revolutionary taxation" and "permit to campaign," especially during election season.

He stressed that the government has continued to ramp up its efforts to deliver basic services and development programs to the people, even as their security and safety are being ensured.

In a statement on its 47th founding anniversary on December 26, the CPP said it has continued to expand its sphere of influence especially in Mindanao.

In Mindanao, during the 47th founding anniversary of the CPP, 50 NPA guerrillas met with the residents of Barangay Lower Luaya in Makilala town in Cotabato.

A certain Ka Efren from the NDF's Front 72, made a report on the successes of the revolution in that part of the country.

Among the front's achievements for the year, he said, the party membership increased by 20 percent.

Efren's area of operation covers Davao del Sur, Davao Occidental, Sarangani, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and North Cotabato.

Also he said that in 2015, Front 72 had conducted 70 successful offensive operations, capped by the downing of a Hue helicopter of the Philippine Air Force in Malapatan, Sarangani province.

Talks must resume

Government of the Philippines peace panel chairman Alex Padilla on Sunday told dzBB's Rowena Salvacion that peace talks between the government and CPP-NPA-National Democratic Front (NDF) must resume.

But he said the resumption of the process must begin at the local level.

"Sa tingin ko, panahon na para magbukas ng usapan sa mga nasa lokal," he said adding that, "Kung pinag-uusapan ang kapayapaan, dapat CPP at NPA na ang kausapin."

He noted that the NPA is taking orders from the CPP, and the NDF has no control over the guerrillas.

Formal peace talks between the government and the CPP-NPA-NDF were called off in April 2013, with the government saying the negotiations were “going nowhere” after a 22-month impasse (starting Feb. 2011) in the negotiations. — LBG, GMA News