Name: Kyle L.

Bonador
Course and Section: AB Foreign Service 302
Subject: International Political Economy
Professor: Jumel G. Estrañero
Date: 25 February 2018

NOT TERRORISTS: Communist Party of the Philippines – New

People’s Army
Why is CPP-NPA labeled as terrorists? What is the basis of the said labeling? Are they really
terrorists? What have they done to be called terrorists? These are questions that bothered me since i first
heard of the group. Through the years of gaining knowledge about them, I say they are not terrorists. The
group has been causing terror and planting fears in the mind of the citizens since 1960s. They have been
challenging the national security of our country since then. Terrorist groups aim for political and personal
motives. These are groups that use extreme violence to achieve a personal or political aim, and to inflict
fear to citizens. As aforementioned, I personally do not label the CPP-NPA as terrorists. Why? Because I
label them as insurgents rather than terrorists. The dictionary and the internet provide differences in the
meaning of the two, and so I had different label for them. Insurgents are groups that battle against the
government with the aim of overthrowing the government for power. Insurgents may or may not use
violence. It is not a prerequisite for insurgencies or if they do, they inflict harm directly to the government
and not to innocent civillians. Also, the CPP-NPA is a domestic anti-government group that makes them
insurgents rather that terrorists that are transnational groups.

The CPP-NPA group is aiming to create a national democratic state through the use of warfare,
which makes the United States and the Europian Union consider them as terrorists. However, they cannot
be considered as a belligerent community under the International Humanitarian Law. CPP-NPA has yet to
prove their power or atleast awaken the anger of military establishments before they can be considered
a belligerent. Though the group is domestically causing trouble against the government, they are not to
be considered belligerent community under the international humanitarian law unless the government
would in case be unable to handle the trouble of the said group. So far, the administration is handling the
situation well throught the goodwill of peace talks and if ever chaos would be present, the AFP, I believe,
is more than ready. The CPP-NPA aims to abolish the eonomic classes and eliminate the struggle of
inequality. They aim to provide an improvement in the poor working condition of the country. Similar to
communism, activism and political economy, the group aim to achieve balance in our country’s economy,
and especially to politics.

We cannot hide and be fed in fear in all times of our life. As a student and a concerned citizen, I
recommend proper education or a background about the group that should be taught in schools that the
students may bring as they grow to be an active citizen in the future. We, youth that are aware, can use
our voice to influence others or share knowledge to communities especially to the young ones that can
already comprehend the idea of the group’s insurgence. We may also participate in activities that could
raise our as well as other’s awareness. I also think that since the rebellion has been almost 6 decades long
now, the government should start to be the main advocate of raising awareness to the citizens. The
members of CPP-NPA hide among the normal citizens of our country, therefore, the government should
be smarter. If not possible, then the government may declare war against the group and arrest each
potential rebel in the aftermath of war. The government should also fund researches about the group. It
is also good for the government to implement the mandatory military service for two years, however
women should participate too. This is to raise the preparedness of our country in the potential outbreak
of war both domestically and internationally. If these recommendations are not possible, we may ask aid
from the international community especially to countries we have deepen ties with, like China.

https://www.scribd.com/document/372346723/NOT-TERRORISTS-Communist-Party-of-the-Philippines-
New-People-s-Army

https://www.academia.edu/36009422/NOT_TERRORISTS_Communist_Party_of_the_Philippines_New_
People_s_Army