Fight among Reds seen in OPAPP criticism

ONE has to notice how the old quarrel among the Communists in our country is being played in the current attempt to discredit Secretary Teresita Deles and the OPAPP.

The attacks against Secretary Deles and OPAPP about whether the millions being spent for rebel returnees help achieve peace has been used to good effect by the Reds who belong or are loyal to the original revitalized and Maoist Communist Party of the Philippines of Amado Guerrero, Armando Liwanag and of course Jose Maria Sison.

Seeing the need of a new rectification movement, Armando Liwanag, chairman of CPP, issued a landmark document, “ Reaffirm Our Basic Principles and Carry the Revolution Forward.” It repudiated the deviations of leading party cadres that had caused setbacks in the party’s development not only in Metro Manila and Luzon but also in the Visayas and Mindanao,

As a result of the central committee’s resolve to re-strengthen the party a veritable war among communists ensued. Members and party cadres who were either “left opportunists” or “right opportunists” were expelled. Some got killed in regional and local operations. 

The communists ended up being divided between the “Rejectionists” —those who would reject the Maoist orthodoxy of Armando Liwanag’s rectification campaign— and the “Reaffirmists,” who are the ones who have remained the enemy of the Philippine government and its police and military. The Reaffirmists are the ones who are the vanguard of the National Democratic Front.

In 1993, a major party group that was the effective communist force in the Manila-Rizal province area proclaimed its independence from the control of the central committee. Soon, similar moves happened in Central Mindanao, Western Mindanao, Negros and Central Visayas and in important organs of the party.

Some groups of rejectionists merged into a larger coalition spanning Manila-Rizal, the Visayas and Central and Western Midnanao.

During the term of President Joseph Estrada, the largest coalition of rejectionists, the Reboluyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa-Pilipinas (RPM-P) suffered a rejection by Mindanao-based communists because the bigger organ had entered into peace agreement with the government of Mr. Estrada. Those who left the RPM-Pilipinas called themselves the RPM-Mindanao.

Various other fragmentations happened.

OPAPP’s version of the Red break-up

As the OPAPP itself describes it, “On February 2, 1996, the Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa ng Pilipinas (RPMP) was formed with members of the breakaway Negros Regional Party Committee of the New People’s Army as its initial members. After more than two months, the Revolutionary Proletarian Army (RPA), its military arm, announced its organization in a press conference. The following year, the Metro Manila-based urban guerilla unit Alex Boncayao Brigade (ABB) led by Nilo Dela Cruz joined the RPA. The other leaders of the RPMP/RPA/ABB alliance included Arturo Tabara, his wife Veronica Tabara and Stephen Paduano.

“The RPMP/RPA/ABB started engaging the Government of the Philippines (GPH) in peace negotiations in December 1999. A year after, on December 6, 2000, the GPH-RPMP/RPA/ABB Peace Agreement was signed. 

“Two factions loomed in the RPMP/RPA/ABB Central Committee in 2007. This are the Tabara-Paduano Group (led by Veronica Tabara and Stephen Paduano) and the Nilo Dela Cruz Group. As a result of the leadership conflict, clouts have been established by the two factions. Dela Cruz assumed the support of RPA/ABB in Luzon and Iloilo province while Paduano has the whole membership of RPA/ABB in Negros Occidental. RPA/ABB members in Panay, Mindanao, Aklan and Antique have mixed affiliations.

“Currently [as of October 31, 2011], the GPH are negotiating with both RPMP/RPA/ABB groups for a closure agreement to include development projects, confidence building measures, disposition of arms and forces and their transformation into a legal, unarmed, socio-economic organization.”

This group of ex-communists rebels are the ones for whom PAMANA programs have been organized to give members a new start in life as non-rebels.

Typical of the militant criticism of the OPAPP’s relations with the RPMP/RPA/ABB is that of the members the House known to be friends or sympathizers or even allies of the National Democratic Front. Note that PNDF includes organizations that are not necessarily communist and Maoist but just nationalist.

ACT calls RPP-ABB criminals

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) last week, as reported by Caroline Howard of AB-CBN’s ANC asked if the “dole-out fund for ABB” will “ really bring peace?”

“The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) is questioning the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan or Peaceful and Resilient Communities (PAMANA) program for returning rebel groups, saying this is not the answer to achieving peace in the country.

“Kinukwestyon namin dito yung PAMANA program, which is part of the counter insurgency program of the government. For the 2012 budget may P1.9 billion na naka-allocate sa PAMANA. Several agencies will implement it, may P329 million sa Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP),” ACT Partylist Representative Antonio Tinio told ANC.

“He explained the Aquino government has allocated the P329-million for livelihood assistance to some 970 barangays in communities identified with rebel groups like the Rebolusyonaryong Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPA-ABB). The government has so far released P31-million of the fund.“

Calling the RPA-ABB a splinter group and no more than a private armed group, Tinio said the group has yet to cease its criminal activities. 

“Members of the RPA-ABB have been reportedly harassing farmers and have been supplying certain politicians in Negros with private armies, he alleged.

“ ‘[The] P31 million is just a small part of P329 million under OPAPP, so we question the usefulness or effectivity of the program. It’s still a dole-out program, but will this really bring peace?” he asked.

“Instead of bringing peace, ang RPA-ABB nagdadala ng karahasan, attacking farmers…,” he alleged.”

If it is true that this group has in fact become a government ally against the Communist New People’s Army, then the anti-communists will have to say “good show, OPAPP!”

Cross Posted from: Manila Times, 06 Nov 2011