Communist Party of the Philippines’ Negros Island Regional Party Committee (NIRPC or CPP Negros) gave a situationer on the revolutionary movement in Negros in its statement for the 54th anniversary of the CPP released on Wednesday, through its newsletter Ang Paghimakas (The Struggle).

It stressed the need to confront intense and sustained enemy attacks and apply Marxism-Leninism-Maoism to creatively advance the people’s war.

It disclosed its successful ideological, political and organizational work in its guerrilla fronts and white areas “despite relentless military operations.”

According to its statement, “the Party, the New People’s Army (NPA), revolutionary movement and the people of Negros have experienced the worst kind of attacks launched by the coercive apparatus of its class enemy, the AFP and PNP, through its focused military operations and Retooled Community Support Program (RCSP) on the island.”

But through the leadership of [CPP Negros], the Apolinario Gatmaitan Command of the NPA Regional Operational Command (AGC-NPA) and revolutionary masses were widely mobilized to retaliate with organized, scientific and resolute counter-campaigns characterized by various forms of struggle, it stated.

CPP Negros stated that the revolutionary movement in Negros mounted annihilative and attritive military actions, launched different anti-feudal struggles, campaigned against militarization and human rights violations, organized teams for area expansion, and carried out education and organizing campaigns among other revolutionary work in 2022.

Specific to the NPA, CPP Negros said that many attritive military actions and some annihilative tactical offensives were launched last year.

“The guerrilla fronts under the Apolinario Gatmaitan Command have mounted 44 military offensives and punitive actions wherein at least a platoon of enemy troops were killed-in-action and another platoon was wounded,” it stated.

Determined and militant

CPP Negros called on Party cadres and members, Red commanders and fighters, the revolutionary forces, and allies in Negros to be determined and militant “in resisting the evil and counterrevolutionary but futile plan of the lackeys of the reactionary regime to dismantle the NPA in Negros and force the entire revolutionary movement to surrender.”

It anticipated intense and violent massive attacks on guerrilla fronts and guerrilla zones of the NPA by the “current fascist and kleptocratic regime” in the context of destroying the revolutionary forces in Negros in the first two years of Marcos Jr.

CPP Negros also remarked government’s censorship of information on the NPA’s successful tactical offensives to maintain the narrative of “dismantled” and “weakened” revolutionary forces on the island.

It regarded AFP/PNP attacks as “challenges and opportunities for NPA Negros, with the Party at the lead, to seize the initiative and achieve a series of big and small victories against operating troops of the enemy through politico-military resistance.

“We must all persevere and overcome current challenges to achieve greater victories in the people’s democratic revolution,” it said.

Revolutionary honors

CPP Negros offered revolutionary honors to Jose Maria Sison, known as Amado Guerrero when he chaired the CPP. Sison passed away on December 16, 2022, a few days before the founding anniversary of the CPP on December 26.

“Upon his death, we renew our commitment to carry forward to greater heights the Filipino revolution he jump-started 54 years ago along with scores of cadres from mass organizations of workers, peasants and youth,” it stated.

Revolutionary martyrs Romeo Nanta, then spokesperson of AGC-NPA, and National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) consultant Ericson Acosta, were also honored with all revolutionaries who “served the people in all possible means until reactionary soldiers cowardly murdered them in cold-blood.” ###

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Ang Paghimakas was first published in the last quarter of 1972 to condemn Marcos’ Martial Law and show the resistance of the people. Now released in Hiligaynon, with English and Bisaya translations of its editorial, it can be downloaded through its website, http://www.negrosrevportal.wordpress.com, and CPP’s national website, philippinerevolution.nu.###