By Vince Angelo C. Ferreras, Reporter
THE COMMUNIST rebellion could end in two years, with Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose “Joma” Maria C. Sison becoming “irrelevant,” said Interior Secretary Eduardo M. Año.
“In two years’ time, tapos na ‘tong CPP-NPA (the CPP-NPA [rebellion] will end) and Joma [Sison] is already out of touch. He’s very irrelevant. Better for him to come home,” Mr. Año told reporters at an event in Quezon City on Monday, March 24.
Mr. Sison, in exile in the Netherlands, said over the weekend that government forces cannot defeat the New People’s Army (NPA) as the rebels are gaining strength and are “deeply rooted among the toiling masses.”
In response, Mr. Año, a retired chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), said: “Malayo sa katotohanan si Joma (Joma is far removed from reality). Umuwi muna siya para malaman niya na this week lang, ilang high-ranking CPP-NPA [officials] ang nahuli ng Armed Forces, pati ng PNP (He should come home so he would know that just this week, some high-ranking officials of the CPP-NPA were arrested by the Armed Forces and also the PNP [Philippine National Police]).”
The Interior Secretary added, “I think everyone believes na dapat nang tapusin ‘yung CPP-NPA at pagod na yung mga tao sa pagsusunog, pagpatay. Ito na ‘yung time na tapusin natin para ‘yung susunod na administrasyon, ‘di na nila proproblemahin ang CPP-NPA.” (I think everyone believes that the CPP-NPA should be wiped out because the people are already tired of their torchings and killings. This is the time to end the [rebellion] so the next administration will not have a problem with the CPP-NPA).
The NPA marks its 50th year on March 29, a transition observed by the CPP on its founding anniversary on Dec. 26 last year.
For his part, AFP Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Edgard A. Arevalo said “we are, together with other government agencies under the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict,… working for the indictment of Mr. Sison and his cohorts.”
On Sunday, government forces arrested in Liliw, Laguna, three communist rebels including a priest turned consultant of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).
In a press briefing at Camp Crame on Monday, PNP chief Director-General Oscar D. Albayalde said the suspects, who are now in police custody, are active members of the CPP-NPA-NDFP.
They were identified as Francisco Fernandez, 71, a consultant of NDFP of who is the subject of an arrest warrant for murder; his wife, Cleofe Lagtapon, 66, said to be the regional deputy secretary for communications and for education of Komiteng Rehiyon Negros (KRN); and Gee-Ann Perez, 20, communications staff of KRN.
According to government records, Mr. Fernandez is a Catholic priest who joined the NPA in the 1980s and has been linked to the killing of soldiers through Special Partisan Unit operations in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental.
The suspects were arrested during a service of warrant operation by the local police and military at 5:16 a.m. of Sunday.
Authorities were able to recover from the suspects three short firearms, three magazines for caliber .45 with 15 rounds of live ammunition, three hand grenades, two sling bags, one blue backpack, subversive documents, articles and notes and three mobile phones.
Aside from murder charges, the suspects were also charged with violation of Comelec Resolution 10429 in relation to the Omnibus Election Code; violation of RA 10591 or illegal possession of firearms; and violation of RA 9516 or illegal possession of explosives.
Mr. Albayalde said the arrest of the three rebels is proof of the effectiveness of local peace talks.
Said the PNP chief: “Nakita kasi ng gobyerno na mas effective yung localized peace talks (The government saw how more effective localized peace talks are). In fact, napakarami na ang nag-surrender sa atin. (many have already surrendered to us). This is the very reason kung bakit nag-iingay sa social media ito si Joma Sison. (This is the very reason why Joma Sison is making noise in social media).”
He added, “It’s better to surrender than fight the military forces or the PNP.”
For his part, 2nd Infantry Division Commander Major General Rhoderick M. Parayno said, “After the termination of the peace talks, ‘yung mga involved sa talks (those involved in the talks) and even the consultants, I think there are 23 of them (the rebels) and six have been arrested.”
“So this will definitely put an end to the effort ni Joma Sison na ibalik sa national level ‘yung peace talks dahil mas pabor ang kanilang members and ground commanders nila sa local peace talks.” (So this will definitely put an end to Joma Sison’s effort to bring back the peace talks to the national level because their members and ground commanders are more in favor of local peace talks).
Malacañang recently announced that a new panel will be organized to pursue localized peace talks with the rebels.

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