AN OPEN LETTER FROM A FORMER REBEL

An open letter from a former rebel.
Our Freedom is in Jeopardy
The fact that the Communist Party of the Philippines-New Peoples’ Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) is continuously committing grave coercion against the people, particularly the politicians, not only in areas where they have their stronghold but also on a nationwide scale, is already very unsettling. How much more would be the threat it would cause in safeguarding clean, honest and credible elections—our freedom, our human rights?
The so called ‘Permit-to-Campaign’ and ‘Permit-to-Win’ scheme of the CPP-NPA-NDF go beyond being a money-making scheme for the commies and their armed group. This tarnishes the integrity of the whole electoral process which is a major expression of democracy in our beloved country. These self-righteous commies always brags about upholding human rights especially in the socio-political sphere but why, for heaven’s sake, would they prevent someone who can’t afford their price, for PTC and PTW, to exercise his rights to campaign and his rights to govern the people in all areas of his concern? Why would they sell the votes of their members if they are sincere in protecting the rights to suffrage of every individual? Why would they deprive our fellow Filipino people, especially in the country side, to discern each and every candidate if they threaten the lives of those candidates who bravely refuse to pay them?
In contrast with the principles of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law or CAHRIHL in which both parties - the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) - signed in 1998, the CPP-NPA’s pursuit of the PTC and PTW is basically a denial of the Filipinos’ rights to freedom of expression, freedom of conscience, political beliefs and practices. The continuance of this unjust practice of theirs is irrevocably anti-poor for it deprives those people who are economically challenged but are eager to be in the public service to pursue their passion. Thus, this would affect and bastardize the people’s right to suffrage because it would limit those individuals who can campaign freely in the CPP-NPA-NDF-controlled areas. And needless to say, the PTC and PTW certainly promote corruption.
These commies will never be satisfied with this PTC and PTW scheme. They even oblige candidates (especially in the local level) to forge alliances with them and adapt policies that will favour their existence. Now, aren’t they the ones who should be called corrupt and dictators? It’s a ‘either-you’re-dead-or-you’ll-be-friendly-with-us’ tactic that puts pressure on their offer with certain candidates. It takes ones to know one.
So, I am calling on to my fellow Filipinos whose love for the country remains in his heart, in his every word, and in his every way to renounce these violations of our human rights being committed by the Communist Party of the Philippines and their terrorist armed group - NPA. Now is the time to bring change in the country and it is upon the shoulders of every Filipino to carry out this task of safeguarding the upcoming May 2010 elections. It is ‘we’ not some pretentious communists that should decide on the future of our nation. And to my former comrades who are still caught by the communist movement’s web of deceptions and lies, it is never too late to start life anew. I hope majority of you would wake up from your deep slumber that you can bring forth progress in this nation through a bloody revolution—I did.