Army engages in partisan politics, anti-leftist campaign

Just a few days in the defense office, with Defense chief Norberto Gonzales seated, and already the military is engaging in partisan politics,directing warnings to the electorate against voting for communists this coming 2010 elections and campaigning actively against party list groups with leftist leanings.

Despite assurances from the acting Defense Secretary, as well as from the military chiefs that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will not engage in partisan politics, the Army’s 1003rd Infantry Brigade (IB) yesterday warned the public against voting for party-list groups identified with the communist movement.

In a peace forum in Compostela Valley province, Army 1003rd Brigade commander Brig. Gen. Eduardo del Rosario stressed that the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) has two ways of pursuing its revolutionary struggle — the armed struggle and the legal struggle.

Del Rosario said the armed struggle is being waged by the NPA while the legal struggle is undertaken under the NDF through its front organizations and party list groups, such as Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, Gabriela, ACT (Alliance of Concerned Teachers), Courage, Migrante, Kabataang Pinoy, Katribu, Akap Bata, Karapatan, KMU (Kilusang

Mayo Uno), LFS (League of Filipino Students) and others.

The Army official reminded Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) cadets that the youth is the hope of the nation.

He also discouraged voters from joining the LFS organization or supporting any other terrorist affiliated party list groups that may manipulate their young minds and use them to fight the government.

“We will continue in our efforts in unmasking the true color of these groups that ironically declared themselves as human rights defenders.

With the help of the people especially the youth sector, these groups will fail and cease to exist,” said Del Rosario.

“Our campaign in exposing the grave danger of supporting the party list groups of the CPP/NPA/NDF is an advocacy and a commitment since this issue is beyond politics. I firmly believe that their success or failure will shape the future of the next generation of Filipinos. Be wise on what party list you will vote for in this coming May 2010 election,” Del Rosario added.

Del Rosario’s statements publicly ran counter to recent pronouncements by newly-installed Defense Secretary Gonzales who vowed to keep the military organization away from politics. He said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will just play its role given by the Commission on Elections during the polls.

It is, however known that this is the same line that Gonzales has also been charging the leftist party list groups he has identified with the armed communist group.

Meawhile, leftist party list congressmen who have an eye on a senatorial seat have not made known with which traditional political party they will be aligning.

Earlier, they were in talks with the Liberal Party for inclusion in the LP senatorial ticket, later negotiating with the Nacionalista Party.

With the NP and the Marcos KBL now coalesced, and with Rep. Bongbong Marcos in the NP senatorial slate, it is not known whether the leftist party list senatorial aspirants will ally themselves with. –Mario J. Mallari, Daily Tribune