Communism not really a bad thing, says AFP head

Published by rudy Date posted on May 22, 2011

MANILA, Philippines—Communism is not bad—in fact it’s legal, says the man who commands the Armed Forces of the Philippines in its war against the 42-year-old Maoist insurgency.

Notwithstanding his position, AFP Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eduardo Oban said he believes communism is not a terrible thing at all, at least as a personal philosophy.

“You know, communism as an ideology is not bad. Actually, under the Constitution, communism is legal,” he said on the sidelines of a news conference on Thursday.

Under the Bill of Rights, “no person shall be detained solely by reason of his political beliefs and aspirations.”

From 2004 until late last year, negotiations to end the insurgency had stalled after the communists accused the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of instigating the inclusion of the CPP’s armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA), in US and European terrorist rosters.

Then in February, formal talks started anew in Oslo, Norway between the government and CPP’s political arm, the National Democratic Front of the Philippines. The Aquino administration hopes to forge a political settlement by June.

That hope may be permeating the ranks of the military and the police as well.

Communists, Oban remarked, only turn rogue once they pick up a gun.

“That’s our baseline. Our threshold is when a particular person starts carrying a weapon. That’s when we will go after them,” he said. “When they try to overthrow the government, that’s when we’ll go after them.”

This week, the chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) said in an address to Cagayan Valley Policemen that perhaps, “our friends in the communist movement” might take a second look at their position and reconsider laying down their arms for good.

“Maybe it’s time to think that we can’t forever be killing each other. Both sides get wounded or killed. Even we (the police) get wounded or killed also,” said PNP Director General Raul Bacalzo, using words that contrasted somewhat with the recent actions of the police and the military.

In past weeks, the AFP and the PNP engaged the NPA in a series of skirmishes. One operation in Cagayan Valley led to the deaths of five rebels, including a local leader, and the capture of four others.

Whatever the outcome of the peace talks, Oban made it clear the AFP would be ready to face and eliminate any remaining threat from the leftists. –DJ Yap, Philippine Daily Inquirer

September 18 –
International Equal Pay Day

“Increase wages now,
more than other cost items.
For widespread, practical equality!”

Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the recommendations of the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry
against serious violations of protocols of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association.

Accept the National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!

#WearMask #WashHands
#Report Corruption #SearchPosts #TakePicturesVideos

Industry and Commerce Safety Month

National Statistics Month

Local Government Month

Consumer Welfare Month

Cooperative Month

National Quality and Productivity Improvement Month

National Health and Wellness Tourism Month
National Indigenous Peoples Month

Weekly Observances:

Week 1: Elderly Filipino Week

Week 2: National Health Education Week

Local Government Week

National Mental Health Week

October 17-23:

National Week for Overcoming Extreme Poverty

October 18 – 24:

United Nations Week

Last Week:

Nurses’ Week

Consumers’ Protection Week

Week of the 4th Sunday:

Barrio Farmers’ Week

Daily Observances:

First Monday (Oct 4): Universal Children’s Day i
n the Philippines

Oct 5: National Teachers’ Day

Oct 10: Local Government Day

Third Thursday (Oct 14): Conflict Resolution Day

Oct 21: Tenants’ Emancipation day

Oct 24: United Nations Day

Oct 29: National Indigenous People’s Thanksgiving Day

Communism not really a bad thing, says AFP head

Events

#Coronavirus in Phl

Trade Union Solidarity Campaigns

Asbestos Campaign

No to Trafficking

Jobs! Jobs! Jobs!

Categories