The militant Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) lambasted the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for pursuing its purely military framework in dealing with the communist movement. 

According to Ka Willy Marbella, internal deputy secretary general of KMP, “ with this framework, the AFP’s line is the only good communist is a dead communist, but what is worse is that the AFP also target civilians, particularly those of progressive organizations like ours, who have no hand in the armed conflict. It seems that the AFP made a stretch of their original doctrine and now states that the only good activist is a dead activist. It has now rampantly operationalized this with impunity, with around 155 political activists killed in just this year alone,”

“A classic example of this policy is that of newly confirmed Major General Jovito Palparan Jr, who is now using his recent promotion as a license to kill. Palparan’s killings is essentially further fuelling the already raging armed conflict in the country side because he is pushing and forcing legal activists to take up arms to protect their lives. Palparan is just making more enemies of the state, by disillusioning those who are pursuing the legal struggle for change,” added the peasant leader.

“I myself have experienced the AFP’s brand of harassment and if am not careful, it’s brand of assassination. I was forced to flee my hometown because a detachment of the 9th ID was established in front of my house, posters and slogans of my name were posted on the walls of Bicol calling me “Kumander Willy”, almost daily harassment of my household is done by the military, I also periodically receive death threats saying that I would be the next one after they killed my colleague,” said Marbella.

“Just yesterday we were harassed by the military in Hacienda Luisita when we were about to go back to Manila after the Paskuhan sa Luisita activity. Upon learning that we were about to leave the military immediately set up a check point on the exit of Luisita, trying to check our bags, vehicles and all. A squad of the NOLCOM is doing this but when we asked them what the checkpoint is for and why was it set up at the exit instead of the entrance they could not give any answer. Up until now even if the reason why the AFP was brought in Luisita is already gone, the plantation is still highly militarized. Now what type of peace does the military want anyway? It seems that the one found in cemeteries is what they are after?” ended the Marbella. # # #
 

KMP - 18 December 2005