Reds to mount tactical offensives

MANILA, Philippines — The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) called on the New People’s Army (NPA) to mount tactical offensives across the country in response to the extension of martial law in Mindanao.

All NPA units must exert all possible effort to punish the worst fascist units and officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) who have committed grave crimes against the people, said the CPP just as martial law in Mindanao was extended by Congress Wednesday afternoon for another year. 

The CPP maintained that further extension of military rule will result in more killings, abductions, torture and worse abuses against the people. “Everyone who voted in favor of extending martial rule in Mindanano will have their names tainted with the blood of each and every victim of Duterte’s all-out war.”

The CPP further claimed that extending military rule in Mindanao “will result in worse corruption within the AFP and PNP (Philippine National Police) as they exercise absolute power,” while citing that in this administration, “the military has gained overriding control of the civilian bureaucracy and all its funds.” 

With martial law in Mindanao, the AFP is set to heighten its election meddling in order to manipulate the midterm polls to favor pro-Duterte and pro-AFP candidates, the underground group further claimed.

Meanwhile, CPP founder Jose Ma. Sison said Tuesday Executive Order 70 is another presidential directive to terminate and prevent the resumption of peace talks at the national level. – With Jose Rodel Clapano