AMONG the many lessons I have learned on entering government last year as the new executive director of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) is the deep penetration by the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its front organizations of all sectors of our society and most significantly, its deep penetration of international organizations, including the agencies and offices of the United Nations.
Of course, as a former student activist and former candidate for full admission to the CPP during my younger years, I am already fully-aware of the extent of the “mass organizing” and “agit-prop” activities of the CPP’s various front organizations—all designed to motivate the public into taking arms against the government.
But getting a front row seat on the successful penetration by the CPP of the UN and other international NGOs made me realize of the gargantuan effort needed by the government if it is to make right the ugly picture that the Philippines currently has in the international front, especially on the issue of corruption and human rights.
Having a ‘head start’ of about 50 years or since the founding of the National Democratic Front (NDF) in 1973, the CPP has a clear advantage in creating the narrative that suits its interest before the global audience.
Aside from being able to instill the country’s image as being a haven for human rights violators and corrupt officials where the rule of law remains weak and the entirety of government and administrations are incapable of good governance, there is also the ‘monetary incentive’ that guide CPP front groups in their dealings with foreign organizations and international institutions.
In exchange for demonizing their own country and fellow Filipinos before their international audience, they also get the advantage of being the first in line of beneficiaries in terms of donations and grants.
Indeed, when having a conversation with some UN officials, foreign NGOs and some foreign embassy officials in the course of my being AO1 ED, I was surprised to learn that these fake NGOs and fake ‘human and press freedom rights advocates’ are the recipients of the money and funding from foreign institutions, including the UN.
When I gently turn the discussion in making them realize that these NGOs are not really benevolent and altruistic in their sworn advocacies, the standard reply I got is that “we know them because we have been working with them for so long.”
Well, let us give credit where credit is due, and I credit the CPP fronts for being able to maintain their façade of “innocence” for so long. But then, suckers are born every day and stupidity and gullibility cover all races—white, brown, yellow, black.
Translation? “Hindi porke ‘Puti’ matalino at hindi puwedeng maloko. Mas magaling manloko ang komunistang Pinoy, hahaha!
Anyway, I remain confident that with many of us in the government working and coordinating to fully expose this ongoing ‘grand deception’ of the CPP, majority of our people would soon be enlightened as to the true essence of these groups—enemies of the Filipino people.
And yes, Jose, it is not red-tagging. It is more about truth-telling, hane?