The fallacy of an all-out war

President Duterte’s declaration of an all-out war against the New People’s Army will result in more casualties on both sides, massive displacement of civilians and more violations of human rights. Ironically, the declaration came at a time when peace negotiations between the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines have successfully hurdled the third round of talks that deals on substantive issues which are the root causes of rebellion in the country.

There seems to be a repeat of history in the making.

An all-out war strategy was first applied by the Cory Aquino administration when she “unsheathed the sword of war” against the rebels. She was ill-advised by rightist elements in the military upon the dictates of the US imperialist policy makers in Washington. The result was a dismal failure. It only increased the number of NPAs by leaps and bounds. By coincidence, it was also during her term that the peace negotiations had been successfully forged on the Comprehensive Agreement on Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law and the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees. The peace talks collapsed after the protesting farmers from Central Luzon were massacred in Mendiola.

In reaction to Duterte’s unilateral declaration of war, the NPA launched a series of offensives in the different parts of the country.

The rebels abducted three villagers, including a policeman, and burned construction equipment in Bukidnon. They also burned a backhoe and two trucks at a construction company compound in Talakag in the province. In Benguet, the rebels also burned two trucks transporting copper ore in Itogon but didn’t harm the drivers. Earlier, the NPAs killed a soldier during a raid in Santo Niño in Cagayan Province. And that was only the opening salvo.

In a statement, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines said that the attacks were in response to the all-out war declaration. “Duterte has gone berserk and upturned the entire peace process. His moves show how difficult it is to conduct serious negotiations with a double-speaking thug who only recognizes his own rules,” they said. The statement added that the government’s all-out war will be completely frustrated, citing how government troops are overstretched fighting them and other insurgent groups, including the Moro militants in Mindanao.

The NPA is fighting a guerrilla war against the military and the police. In guerrilla warfare, even the modern weapons of the military will not defeat the highly-mobile guerrillas due to their mastery of the terrain and support of the people living in areas where they operate. The only way to win the war is to win the hearts and minds of the people. The rebels are obviously winning on this score. Other regimes before Duterte have tried but failed to banish the NPA from the face of the earth. Military solution to the insurgency problem is doomed to fail.

Political leaders who refuse to learn the lessons in history are bound to commit the same mistakes that will ultimately bring their imminent downfall and ignominy. It’s a lesson not too late to be learned from the fallacy of an all-our war.

Rene F. Antiga

Banilad, Mandaue City