It looks like government efforts at peace talks with the Communist rebels is not stopping the New People’s Army from creating more fighting units on Negros Island.

Leaders of the Communist Party of the Philippines and its fighting arm, the NPA, at a press conference somewhere in Negros Island late last week  to mark the 42nd founding anniversary of the CPP, said they are expanding   their controlled and influenced areas in the island to bring about a stalemate with government forces in five years.

The press conference held in a mountain lair of the rebel forces was presided over by Ka Marco representing the Negros Island Regional Party Committee and Ka Nocnoc, who represented the NPA’s Regional Operational Command.

A platoon of regular red fighters performed drills while others stood guard in and around the venue of the press conference.

Ka Marcos said that, while they welcome the resumption of the peace talks, they have little hope that it could eventually lead to the resolution of the continuing conflict and would address the roots of war.

“We have no illusions that the hopes of the masses will be realized through peace talks,” he said.

Ka Marco said that, among the most important agenda they want included in the peace talks that start in February, is the need for genuine agrarian reform with the proposed draft agreement on socio-economic reforms to be tackled next.

Ka Marco also called on Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr.  to help the people by ensuring  that they have land to till so that they will not go hungry.

Meanwhile, he said the directive of the national CPP-NPA leadership is to bring the revolution to the next higher level to be at par with all government forces in all aspects for a stalemate in the next five years.

This means producing what he called more committed cadres in all levels and organizing more fighting units.

They will be establishing  two guerrilla fronts in each congressional district with each guerrilla front having a platoon of NPA fighters, Ka Marco said.

In Negros Occidental, this would mean seven companies of NPA troops since it has seven congressional districts and three fighting companies in Negros Oriental, he added.

Contrary to the military claims that they are a spent force, Ka Marco said the NPA forces are now even more united and their mass base had increased by 30 to 40 percent.

In 2010, he said they launched tactical offensives against 30 legitimate military targets resulting in the seizure of 30 high powered  and low caliber firearms, the killing of 20 government troopers and injuring 15.

They also carried out attacks on a sugar milling company and a mining firm, and punitive operations against those oppressing the masses, he added.

JAI ALAI

Meanwhile, Ka Marco said jai-alai was not good for the people, especially in the countryside because it is unproductive and derailing productive activities, such as farming.

Jai-alai would not lead to anything good for the people and they will educate people against it, Ka Marco said.

TAXES

He also said they impose revolutionary taxes because, like all governments, they need the funds to deliver services to the people in areas where they operate.

Revolutionary taxation on businesses is a “legitimate action of a legitimate political force,” he claimed.

He said the taxes they levied “go to services” for the masses, such as education and health, although “the bulk goes to strengthening the armed struggle to free the people.”*CPG

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