‘All-out war...’
OR “All out peace,” was an effective policy by President Ramon Magsaysay Sr. against the Communists. A photo from Life Magazine shows Magsaysay as defense secretary marking targets with a smoke bomb on a Spotter Plane for AFP artillery. Aware of groups beguiling and ideologically bent for revolution, he ordered to “Find em, Fight em, Fool em.”
The onus to prove sincerity must not fall on a democratically elected government open for “peace talks.” Magsaysay succeded because his executive action provided terrorists a choice as to which half of the policy they earnestly pursued? Friendship or total war? Those who came forward to government, presenting their weapons, enrolling in a reconciliation process with a rebel-returnee program to start fresh (financial incentives etc.), were welcomed. In short, a path for dis-armament, demobilization, and re-integration. While those who insisted in armed totalitarian blood-letting, could expect “No peace, no paralyzing co-existence or gray neutralism,” as Magsaysay warned. In this manner, the parameters were clear on both sides. There can be no mis-understanding, temporizing, or duplicity.
After EDSA One, “peace talks” have been a boon for the CPP-NPANDF strengthening and recruiting partisans in the hills, orchestrating street protests, deceiving and agitating trouble in various sectors of our society, e.g., laborers, farmers, fishermen, urban settlers, students, teachers, government, etc., to include suspected party-list fronts who spout the very same line of thinking as their Communist mother party. Certain “far-left” Cabinet members must be asked where their loyalties are. To President Duterte, the Constitution, or the CPP? And why, despite their appointment into government, revolutionary taxes/extortion continue? Quid pro quo? If “peace talks” must proceed, it should be at the regional or provincial level. Localize the talks. End the CPP-NDF rapprochement since the latter utilizes “peace” more as a decoration rather than a direction. Government seems focused on resuming the peace process, while the far-left are dogged about the endstate. In truth, current “peace talks” are no longer about “peace” but political, economic, etc., administration. They set the agenda, capitalizing on the talks by presenting debunct models of better governance. Their end-state is to establish a “coalition government.” Is this what we are preparing for? We are running in circles after our tail.
Enough is enough. So many bodies and blood trail the decades of war as communism advanced with treachery from Plaza Miranda bombing, as exposed by senator victims, e.g. Eddie Ilarde, and the autobiographies of Jovito Salonga and Eva Estrada Kalaw, up to the recent ambush of four policemen (woman) in Bansalan, Davao del Sur, etc., prompting President DU30 to order “All-out war and arrest of NDF consultants.” This is who the enemy is. Tigers cannot change their stripes.