What is happening to the AFP?

By ANAD Partylist
July 20, 2012

QUEZON CITY  –  “General, what has happened to the AFP?” This is the question posed by the Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy (ANAD) on AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Jessie Dellosa in reaction to Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares’ lecture: Human Rights Legal Mechanism: The Writ of Amparo before officers and men of the Phil. Army’s 3rd Infantry Division, at the University of San Agustin, in Iloilo City last July 16. (Bayan Muna solon lectures soldiers on human rights, pp. 11, The Freeman, 7/19/12)

“Is this your best and surest way to ‘win the peace’ and end the 44-years of Maoist terrorism?” asked ANAD Rep. Jun Alcover as he decried the fact that with the things happening in our midst, the Maoist terrorist CPP-NPA-NDF is now dictating the tempo and methodology of the Armed Forces’ counter-insurgency operations.

“It is my belief that the AFP is now going nuts and crazy in seeking ways and measures to resolve Maoist terrorism in the country!” added Rep. Alcover as he pointed out that instead, “The AFP leadership should’ve told Colmenares to show his full adherence to the rule of law, justice, and the protection of human rights by convincing Satur Ocampo and the remaining few thousands of NPAs to give up their firearms and self-styled and demonic misadventure that already has become senseless and worthless,” he said.

The former NPA commander and political officer in Eastern and Central Visayas stressed that Bayan Muna is a political organization of the National Democratic Front (NDF). “It is on record that the founding chair of the Maoist CPP-NPA-NDF Jose Ma. Sison, last March 4, 1987 in Brussels, Belgium, openly admitted that Bagong Alyansa Makabayan (BAYAN) and Bayan Muna are part of the communist’s revolutionary forces and its united front effort against the government. So what business does Rep. Colmenares have in taking the podium before the officers and men of the Phil. Army, their avowed enemy, but to promote and protect the interest of his Maoist masters!” said Rep. Alcover.

Saying that in using the Maoist personalities, the AFP does not enjoy any psychological advantage over Maoist terrorists, “In terms of propaganda, nothing has changed as the balance still remains in favor of the Maoist terrorist organization and not the government,” Rep. Alcover explained.

Citing his experience and the knowledge gained while in the Maoist University covering some 10 years, “The calumny, deceptions, and pretensions now waged by them (Maoist armed and political forces) are the very same teachings that were rammed on us in the underground. Now I am a witness to these things happening in our midst. In many forums with government and the private sector, I was not remiss in warning them by openly sharing this information. But it seems nobody listened!” Rep. Alcover added.

At the same time, Rep. Alcover said that the latest incident is indeed like rubbing salt to the wounds already suffered by the government’s armed forces when then Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Bautista, commanding general of the Army’s 3rd ID, during a confrontation between the military, police, and ‘militant’ groups (sic!) at the office of Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. in October 5, 2011, admitted that the military was indeed behind the vilification and red-tagging of ‘militant’ groups in Western Visayas. (Army admits campus red-baiting, Panay News, 10-09-2011,) “The army officer referred to in the aforesaid news item is now the commanding general of the Philippine Army,” Rep. Alcover said.