Communist armed conflicts in the Philippines

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The history of communist armed conflicts in the Philippines is closely related to the history of Communism in the Philippines, with various armed conflict linked to the armed wings of the various communist organizations that have evolved since 1930. The two largest conflicts have been the Hukbalahap Rebellion of 1942–1954, which was initiated by the Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas of 1930 (PKP-1930) and its armed group the Hukbalahap[1]: 44  (HMB) (Hukbong Mapagpalaya ng Bayan, or "People's Liberation Army"), and the ongoing rebellion of the New People's Army, which began in 1969 under the auspices of the Communist Party of the Philippines. The latter conflict was still in its infancy in 1972 when Ferdinand Marcos proclaimed Martial law, but expanded significantly as even the moderate opposition against Marcos was radicalized.[2]: "43" 

A month after Marcos was ousted through the broad-based nonviolent People Power Revolution of February 1986, the unit led by Conrado Balweg formed a splinter group known as the Cordillera People's Liberation Army, whose conflict with the Philippine government formally ended with the closure of peace talks in 2011.[3]

1992 saw what the CPP refers to as the Second Great Rectification Movement, an effort whose stated intent was to "identify, repudiate and rectify the errors of urban insurrectionism, premature big formations of the New People's Army and anti-infiltration hysteria".[4] This resulted in the once monolithic Filipino communist party fragmenting into at least 13 factions during the 1990s,[5][6][7] the most notable being: the alliance that was the Revolutionary Workers' Party (RPM-P), the Revolutionary Proletarian Army (RPA), and the Alex Boncayao Brigade (ABB); the Revolutionary People's Army – Mindanao (RPA-M), and the Rebolusyonaryong Hukbong Bayan (RHB, Revolutionary People's Army) of the Marxist-Leninist Party of the Philippines (MLPP).[6]

Hukbalahap Rebellion[]

Main article: Hukbalahap Rebellion

The Hukbalahap Rebellion began in 1942 when the Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas of 1930 (PKP-1930) formed an armed group called the Hukbo ng Bayan Laban sa Hapon (People's Army against the Japanese) to fight against the Japanese occupation of the Philippines during World War II. At the end of the war in 1946, the PKP-1930 reconstituted the Hukbalahap as the Hukbong Mapagpalaya ng Bayan ("Peoples' Liberation Army"), transforming it into the party's armed wing. This conflict ended in 1954 under the presidency of Ramon Magsaysay.[1]: 44 

New People's Army Rebellion[]

Main article: Communist rebellion in the Philippines

The ongoing rebellion of the New People's Army began in 1969 under the auspices of the Communist Party of the Philippines, which had been formed the previous year.

This conflict was still in its infancy in 1972 when Ferdinand Marcos proclaimed Martial law, but expanded significantly as even the moderate opposition against Marcos was radicalized.[2]: "43" 

The Communist Party of the Philippines went through a series of setbacks and internal conflicts in after the ouster of Ferdinand Marcos in 1986, including the breaking away of the Cordillera People's Liberation Army of former priest Conrado Balweg.

In 1992 the CPP went through what it calls the Second Great Rectification Movement, whose stated intent was to "identify, repudiate and rectify the errors of urban insurrectionism, premature big formations of the New People's Army and anti-infiltration hysteria".[4] This resulted in the split of the party into "Re-affirmist" and "Rejectionist" groups, resulting in the formation of at least 13 factions during the 1990s.[5][6][7]

Cordillera People's Liberation Army conflict[]

See also: Cordillera People's Liberation Army and Mount Data Peace Accord

A month after Marcos was ousted through the broad-based nonviolent People Power Revolution of February 1986, the unit led by Conrado Balweg formed a splinter group known as the Cordillera People's Liberation Army. The group began peace talks with the Philippine government later that year with the landmark Mount Data Peace Accord of September 13, 1986. The conflict formally ended with the closure of peace talks in 2011.[3]

Revolutionary Proletarian Army – Alex Boncayao Brigade conflict[]

See also: Revolutionary Workers' Party (Philippines), Revolutionary Proletarian Army, and Alex Boncayao Brigade

The Revolutionary Workers' Party (Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawà ng Pilipinas) (RPM-P) and its military wing, the Revolutionary Proletarian Army, split from the Communist Party of the Philippines in 1996, as a result of the Second Great Rectification Movement.[8]

The Metro Manila-based urban assassination unit of the New People's Army, known as the Alex Boncayao Brigade (ABB; also known as the Sparrow Unit),[9] also broke away from the New People's Army, and allied itself with the RPM-P and RPA in 1997.[10][11][8]

In 1999, the group began peace negotiations with the government, leading to a peace deal which was signed in 2000.[12]

Marxist–Leninist Party of the Philippines armed conflict[]

Another conflict is with the Rebolusyonaryong Hukbong Bayan of the Marxist–Leninist Party of the Philippines (MLPP–RHB),[13]: 682 [14] which operates mostly in Central Luzon and often has clashes with the rival New People's Army.[15]

References[]

  1. ^ a b Saulo, Alfredo (1990). Communism in the Philippines: An Introduction. Quezon City: Ateneo de Manila University Press. ISBN 971-550-403-5.
  2. ^ a b John), Kessler, Richard J. (Richard (1989). Rebellion and repression in the Philippines. New Haven: Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0300044065. OCLC 19266663.
  3. ^ a b "Historical Background of Cordillera's Pursuit for Regional Development and Autonomy". Cordillera.gov.ph. March 1, 1991. Archived from the original on July 17, 2013. Retrieved September 4, 2013.
  4. ^ a b Jalandoni, Luis G. (February 8, 2016). "The Revolutionary Struggle of the Filipino People". Retrieved November 5, 2017.
  5. ^ a b Pabico, Alecks P. (August 31, 2007). "The Great Left Divide". GMA News. Retrieved November 5, 2017.
  6. ^ a b c "Armed Conflicts: Philippines-CPP/NPA (1969–2017)". Project Ploughshares. Archived from the original on September 27, 2018. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
  7. ^ a b "Philippines' communist rebellion is Asia's longest-running insurgency". South China Morning Post. September 16, 2019. Archived from the original on September 16, 2019. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  8. ^ a b Peace Talk Philippines (28 November 2012). "Background of the GPH and RPMP/RPA/ABB Peace Process". Retrieved November 3, 2017.
  9. ^ Saracho, Joel (April 27, 1987). "The men they call Sparrows". Manila Standard. Standard Publications, Inc. p. 2. Retrieved November 26, 2020. ...[T]he Alex Boncayao Brigade (ABB), the urban guerilla [sic] unit of the New People's Army that the military has labeled the Sparrow Unit.
  10. ^ Leifer, Michael (2013). Dictionary of the Modern Politics of Southeast Asia. Routledge. p. 51. ISBN 978-1135129453.
  11. ^ Leifer, Michael (May 13, 2013). Dictionary of the Modern Politics of Southeast Asia. Routledge. ISBN 9781135129453.
  12. ^ "Peace adviser: Deal with RPA-ABB a good model for localized talks". The Philippine Star. March 27, 2019. Archived from the original on March 1, 2021. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  13. ^ Schmid, Alex Peter. 2011. The Routledge Handbook of Terrorism Research. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 9780415411578 https://books.google.com.ph/books?id=GiOCWg4f87MC&pg=PA420&lpg=PA420&dq=rhb+rebolusyonaryong+hukbong&source=bl&ots=50ZVhj5aJX&sig=ACfU3U2QOf1oTrMd09gnjra0VxStL_Lq_Q&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiFsZKsyY_vAhUIGaYKHZOeArc4FBDoATAIegQIBRAC#v=onepage&q=rhb%20rebolusyonaryong%20hukbong&f=false
  14. ^ "War with the NPA, war without end". Rappler. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
  15. ^ "Two more killed in mounting NPA-RHB rivalry in Central Luzon". The Philippine Star. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
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