File photo: New People’s Army

MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has uncovered several plots by the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) to oust President Rodrigo Duterte, after examining data of computers seized from the rebels.

The military said the CPP was planning to sabotage the commemoration of the declaration of martial law last September 21 with a plot similar to the Plaza Miranda Bombing in 1972.

AFP Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations Brig. Gen. Antonio Parlade said, the CCP’s plan was to recruit not only ordinary people but also prominent members of the opposition to participate in their staged protests.

In the middle of the program, a bomb was set to go off and at least injure a member of the opposition so that they can blame the incident on the administration.

“Kaya lang di sila nakabuo ng malaking grupo kaya dinisregard nila yung plano na yun,” said Parlade.

After failing to pull it off the communist rebels are back to the “Red October” ouster plot which they started executing way back in September 2017.

If the “Red October” plan fails, the Left has another plot set for November known as the “Lakbay Lumad Europe” and in December at the celebration of the Communist Party’s 50th Anniversary.

Parlade also denied allegations that the revelation of such conspiracies against the Chief Executive is merely psychological warfare.

“We don’t have to concoct anything kasi it’s there in the website. Magbasa lang at mag research lang yung mga tao natin makikita nila, yan ay plano ni Communist Party [founding chairman] na si Joma Sison; yan ang di alam ng coalition,” Parlade said. — Lea Ylagan / UNTV News & Rescue

Tags: Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), CPP-NPA, President Rodrigo Duterte

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana (left) and National Democratic Front founding chair Jose Maria Sison (right)

QUEZON CITY, Philippines – Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Friday (June 29) scored against Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founding chairman Jose Maria Sison for his “tantrums” to lure the government to his interest.

“Mr. Sison, you know that the peace talks is the only thing that is keeping you in the limelight. Without it you are irrelevant. You also know that the President can terminate the talks, and this is why you are desperately using reverse psychology and intimidation to save it,” Lorenzana said.

Lorenzana told Sison that many of the members of the New People’s Army (NPA) no longer trust him citing his (Sison) lavish lifestyle in the Netherlands as compared to the miseries that the communist guerrillas are suffering in the mountains.

“They know that every time you order them to fight the government forces, you are sending them to their death while you are comfortably enjoying your safety in the Netherlands and freeloading off the Dutch Government. Dapat kang mahiya dahil inabandona mo ang iyong mga mandirigma. That’s why they are coming down in droves to live peaceful and productive lives. Sawa na sila sa panloloko mo,” Lorenzana said.

Members of the New People’s Army

The Defense Secretary made the statement after a remark from Sison saying that the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) could no longer negotiate peace under the Duterte administration.

He dismissed Sison’s statements, saying the government would pursue localized peace talks instead.

Meanwhile, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Oscar Albayalde reminded ground commanders to harden their measures especially in vital installations across the country following the recent rift between the government and the communist leadership.

“Target hardening measures palaging nandiyan. Camp security plan nila, laging nandiyan. Conduct simulation exercises palagi na lang iyon, always reiteration ng ating POP,” Albayalde said.

(Target hardening measures are always there. Camp security plans are always there.  Conduct simulation exercises are carried out regularly, always a reiteration of our POP.)

The PNP Chief suggests that the communist group show sincerity in negotiating peace with the government in order to end the decades-long communist insurgency in the country.

“Sabi ko nga ang importante sa peace negotiation ay sincerity. Dapat sincere at serious tayo which is what our government is showing. Kaya nga in every province pwede silang magsurrender sa mga probinsiya. Ang daming mga nagsu-surender na mga kapatid natin na rebelde na hindi na nila hinihintay pa whether magpush through ang negotiations,” the PNP Chief explained.

(As I have said, sincerity is important in a peace negotiation. We must be sincere and serious, which is what our government is showing.  That’s why in every province there are surrendering rebels. Many of our rebel brothers are surrendering in large numbers. They are not waiting anymore on whether negotiations will push through.) – Marje Pelayo

The rebel returnees surrendered their firearms for which they were given livelihood assistance.

Tags: Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), Defense secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Jose Maria Sison

CPP Founder and NDFP Chief political consultant Jose Maria Sison

UTRECHT, The Netherlands – Communist leader Jose Maria “Joma” Sison said he is amenable to President Rodrigo Duterte’s offer to resume peace talks between the Philippine government (GPH) and his group in pursuit of lasting peace in the country.

However, the founding chairman of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) is adamant that he will not come back to the Philippines for the talks, contrary to reports that he has agreed to return to the country sometime in August this year.

“Kung maaantala ang peace negotiations ng one, two or three months, hindi problema. Pero malaking problema kapag pilitin ni Duterte na sa Manila ang venue,” Sison said in an exclusive interview with UNTV News in Utrecht, The Netherlands on Wednesday, June 20.

Sison insists that peace talks should be done on a neutral ground with the presence of a third party facilitator as stated in The Hague Joint Declaration and the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG).

He admitted that he is fed up with the peace deal being shuttled back and forth. Still, he said, the communist group tries to understand all the reasons given by  the GPH peace panel for the series of cancellations.

“Kahit na disappointing and frustrating iyong pag kansela, kung postponement lamang ang gusto ng gobyerno ni Duterte at sa neutral venue pa rin gagawin ang peacetalks at ang Royal Norweigan Government pa rin ang third party facilitator, ay walang problema,” he explained.

Sison claims Duterte seems to be unaware of the actions of the government negotiating panel. It would explain, he said, why the President had been flip-flopping on whether or not to resume the peace deal.

“Lalo na ang principal mukhang hindi niya nasusundan ang ginagawa ng mga kinatawan niya. Pero sabi naman ng mga kinatawan niya, wala silang sinasabi at kinikilos na hindi aprubado ng principal nila,” Sison said referring to Duterte and the GPH negotiators.

Despite the uncertainties, the self-exiled leader remains positive that time will come that the two parties will resolve differences and finally end the country’s decade-long communist insurgency. — Cynthia Teruel / Marje Pelayo

Tags: Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), Jose Maria “Joma” Sison, peace talks, President Rodrigo Duterte