MASBATE CITY, Masbate (PIA) — The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), which has long sought to establish a new state led by Maoist-oriented working class, is losing crucial support from common people in this province increasingly disgusted by the actions of its armed members, including senseless destruction, criminal behavior and the coldblooded killing of a young football star.

The switch in mood presents more than just an image management headache for the guerillas of the New People’s Army, the CPP’s armed wing, who rely on their supporters to survive the government’s superior military strength. A diminution of that support weakens the rebels’ ability to sustain its armed struggle that has stunted development in the countryside and claimed thousands of lives since 1969.

The rebel shortcomings are draining enthusiasm from a significant number of insurgents and their core supporters.

As members of Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU), they are assigned to protect natural resources firms and secure and defend the communities from their former comrades in the underground movement.

Perhaps the most significant shift is among the local businesses, who used to pay the NPA to avoid being attacked.

According to intelligence reports, contractors of public infrastructure projects, shop operators and other businesses have ceased paying the NPA collectors, depriving the guerillas of the funds that fuel their activities.

Atrocities like executions have led many Masbateños to believe that the rebels are as wicked as the rogues in the police and military and civil service they aim to overthrow. 

“Kabaliktaran ng ipinangako nila ang ngayon ay ginagawa nila, (They are doing the exact opposite of what they promised us),” lamented the former NPA informant in Masbate City, the provincial capital where an improvised explosive device planted by NPA went off and killed Far Eastern University football star Kieth Absalon and his cousin, labor leader Nolven Absalon in 2021. 

Rights groups including the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) denounced the communist forces, saying no ideology could justify the senseless deaths of the Absalon cousins.

In an effort to manage the public backlash, the CPP-NPA declared “deep remorse” for the “untimely and unnecessary” deaths of two noncombatants.

But that did not ease the disgust after the deadly explosions.

Disgusted villagers played tipsters to the military and police that led to the death of the NPA squad that carried out the bombing.

The neutralization of Absalons’ killers was completed with the death of the squad leader Eddie Rosero alias “Star '' during a firefight with soldiers from the 96th IB in San Jacinto town last August 19 that also killed three female rebels.

“The killers of Joey, Jestoni and Jose (all surnamed Lalaguna) were ruthless,” said Roland Lalaguna.  “Their families cannot even afford a decent burial for them.”  

In January 2021, two village officials of Barangay Cabas-an in Aroroy town were also abducted and executed by NPA rebels. Both slain victims were former rebels.

Just last March 20, the NPA started an armed hostilities with the military and the police involving the use of explosive weapons near several public elementary and secondary schools in Cawayan town.

At least 55,199 students, 2,815 teachers, and 140 schools were constrained to shift their classes from in-person to modular distance learning to ensure their safety from the crossfire and cross-explosions.

Last August 23, seven NPA members gave up more than a decade of insurgency and voluntarily surrendered to the 2nd Infantry Battalion.

Two weeks earlier, three NPA members also voluntarily surrendered to the police and military in Cataingan town.

Amy Badillo-Danao, social welfare and development officer for Masbate, said close to 200 former CPP-NPA members were now registered under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).

They were housed in a center for helping former rebels to adjust to life in mainstream society. They will eventually move to houses that will be built by the government for former rebels.

Aside from the housing, cash was given to the former rebels under the Sustainable Livelihood Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Those who turned in their firearms were given additional cash that they could use to start a small business that would improve their lives peacefully. (PIA Masbate)