Presidential bet Gonzales says communism may be allowed without armed struggle

Presidential candidate and former Defense secretary Norberto Gonzales on Monday said the government should work on refuting the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front of the Philippines’ (CPP-NPA-NDF) ideology that the country’s systems could be changed through use of violence or armed struggle.

During the Catholic E-Forum hosted by Radio Veritas, Gonzales said all those who use firearms to change the system of society could be threats to national security and should therefore not be allowed in the country.

However, he stressed that the government should also try to understand that the CPP-NPA-NDF is a political entity that has its own political ambition, yet has an ideology to use violence to get it.

“Ang medyo nakaka-worry nang husto ay ‘yung ideology ng komunista. Fundamental sa kanilang ideology na ang pagkuha nila ng poder ng bayan is through violent means or armed struggle,” Gonzales said.

[What worries me the most is that the communist ideology is fundamental to their ideology that they would take the country’s side through violent means or armed struggle.]

“Kaya ‘yun, dapat nire-refute natin. Puwede ang komunismo sa Pilipinas kung tatanggalin nila ‘yung aspeto ng armed struggle sa kanilang ideology,” he added.

[That, we have to refute. Communism in the Philippines is possible if they remove the aspect of armed struggle from their ideology.]

He said that the government should still address the roots of rebellion such as poverty and injustice, with or without violence.

During The Jessica Soho Presidential Interviews, Vice President Leni Robredo, Senators Panfilo Lacson and Manny Pacquiao, and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno all indicated that they were for the resumption of peace talks with the CPP-NPA-NDF.

In 2017, Duterte signed a proclamation declaring the termination of peace talks with the communist rebels as the CPP-NPA-NDF is still “engaged in acts of violence and hostilities.”

Gonzales, who also served as national security adviser under the Arroyo administration, is running under the Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas (PDSP). —KG, GMA News