“History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce,” Marx once said. But for the government, history seems to be an uninteresting subject no matter how painfully it repeats itself right in its very face.
With the recent capture of Benito Tiamzon and wife, Wilma, among others, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is once again bragging about the significance of its newest “accomplishment,” calling it “a big blow” to the revolutionary movement. History tells a different story though. In 1977, Prof. Jose Ma. Sison and Kumander Dante, both responsible for the reestablishment of the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People’s Army (CPP-NPA), were caught at a time when the party’s membership and mass support were growing fast and strong. However, that did not break nor scratch the back of insurgency in the country. A similar case happened in 1989, when couple Satur Ocampo and Bobbie Malay, key figures in the underground movement, were captured and presented to the media by the military. Did the capture weaken the rebels that time? Not a bit. On the other hand, they were able to consolidate their ranks, reaffirm their principles and rectify past mistakes.
The crux of the matter is the CPP-NPA is not a traditional political party. Unlike the Liberal or Nacionalista whose continuity and success are based on each candidate’s popularity, influence and wealth, and where one member’s action could decide the life of the party, the insurgents are governed by principles and will struggle to victory until their very last breath.
Indeed, its leaders may go but tens of thousands more will advance their cause. This is what the government fails to understand. Instead of addressing the root causes of the insurgency, they target its leaders and supporters. And when confronted by the rebels’
basic demands during formal peace talks, they inadvertently dismiss them as obsolete or unacceptable. And since when did the fundamental issues of genuine agrarian reform and national industrialization become passé in a country dominated by trans- national and multinational corporations, comprador and big landlords while the vast majority lives in poverty and destitution? Is it acceptable to imprison consultants of the National Democratic Front despite the existence of the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees? The AFP describes the NPA as “jurassic” and “barbaric.” Well, all I know is that our social conditions remain feudalistic—unable to break loose from the shackles of the past. What I didn’t know was there are people who see the mercenary tradition of extrajudicial killings and forced disappearances as civilized and cultured. How I wish the military has something to say about Gen. Jovito Palparan’s being still on the loose.
They may have caught today’s biggest fish, but there’s still a big sea out there that will inevitably breed more big fish. When will they ever learn?
—DANIEL ALOC,
tierra.giya@yahoo.com