12 top CPP Mindanao leaders holds plenum—inside military camp

TWELVE top leaders of the Southern Mindanao Regional Party Committee (SMRPC) of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), were finally able to hold their ‘plenum’ sometime this month with none other than their foremost “enemy,” the 10^TH Infantry ‘Agila’ Division based in Mawab Davao de Oro (formerly Compostela Valley) as the host for their meeting.

In a statement by the division last Monday, August 23, 2021, attendees to the meeting include 12 top SRMC leaders, namely:

Arian Jane Ochate Ramos, aka, ‘Marikit, secretary, Guerilla Front 55; SMRC; Noel M. Legaspi, aka, ‘Jeffrey,’ first deputy secretary, Far-South Mindanao Region; Joy James Alcoser Saguino, aka, ‘Che/Amihan,’ deputy secretary, SRC1, secretary, WGF 20 and SCR1 Peasant Bureau; Ivan Conan Cael, aka, Mackoy/Raprap/Greg, secretary, SRC;

Christian Balatero Pastor, aka, ‘Khan,’ commanding officer, WGF 33, SRC 4; Eddie Saramosing Genelsa, aka, ‘Lando/Pahak/Brad/Jimbo,’ vice-commander, Regional Operations Command and part of the CPP peace negotiating team thru the National Democratic Front; Paulette Malaga Santos-Castillo, aka, ‘Ella/Yella/Ba-i/Donna,’ regional coordinator, Rural Missionaries of the Philippines and Regional Peasant Secretariat; Priel Booc, aka, ‘Yano,’ Trade Union, South;

Daniel Louis Santos Castillo, aka, ‘Steven,’ political instructor, GF 55.SRC5; Pedro Baguio Arnado, aka, ‘Benoy,’ regional chair and national treasurer, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas and member, Kalumaran-Mindanao;

Roberto Olea Rosete Jr., aka, ‘Alex/Bobby/Barley,’ commanding officer, Pulang Bagani Company (PBC) 3 and vice commander, Regional Operations Group; and, Kurt Russel Sosa, kaka, ‘Ugnay,’ secretary, WGF 3 and deputy secretary, SRC4.

But unlike in previous occasions when the group are discussing how to conduct propaganda and terrorism campaigns against the public and the government, the discussants, according to the military, are sharing their experiences inside the communist movement and how best to help the government end the 53-years of deception and terrorism by the CPP.

The SMRC previously holds the distinction of being the biggest and most powerful regional committee of the CPP in the entire country.

The group reportedly agreed on a “total exposure campaign” against the SMRC and all the front organizations of the CPP where they previously belonged before ending up being deceived to take up arms against the government.

By doing so, the group said it would be one way of “atoning” for the past transgressions they themselves committed against the people of Mindanao.

“Mas maganda na ngayon ang ginagawa ng gobyerno at natutulungan ang masa dahil ang insurhensiya ay labanan naman talaga ng kung sino ang may hawak sa masa.

“Dahil dito, nailalantad ang hungkag na layunin ng teroristang CPP-NPA-NDF at mga alyadong grupo nito sapagkat ang kanilang propaganda ay hindi naman talaga nakatuon para paunlarin ang bansa kundi pabagsakin ito gamit ang masa at sistema ng gobyerno,” Ochate Ramos explained.

Legaspi, for his part, acknowledged the decisive role being played by the National
Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) in “crushing” many of the CPP-NPA’s guerilla fronts in the country.

“Sana isabatas na ang EO 70 upang lalo pang sumigla ang daloy ng mga programang magbibigay-seguridad sa mga mamamayan. Tamang edukasyon at impormasyon ay ilan lang sa mga dapat tutukan ng pamahalaan upang wala ng malinlang ang CPP-NPA-NDF,” referring to the executive order issued by Pres. Duterte that created the task force.

The meeting, according to MGen. Ernesto ‘Jun’ Torres, Agila commander, is just the first in the series of meetings being planned by the former top leaders of the communist movement in Southern Mindanao.

After a period of introspection, the group decided to offer their help and insight on how to effectively defeat their former comrades, especially by convincing them to surrender so they can start their life anew together with their families.