I’ve heard the saying, “Must you be bitten by a snake, just to find out if it’s venomous?” This is exactly what the New People’s Army is, a venomous snake! Two days before an agreed 19-day ceasefire was to take effect – the longest in a decade – soldiers in Northern Samar were returning to base because of the same were ambushed by the snakes! When the smoke cleared, ten soldiers and a civilian were killed. The soldiers were on their way back since the ceasefire was already agreed upon by both parties. But like all Filipinos who try to do everything on the last day, the rebels decided that it had the opportunity to strike when technically, the ceasefire was not yet in effect. It’s like a boxer punching his opponent after the bell has sounded!
Such is the technique of the opportunist. In 1973, Israel’s enemies attacked on Yom Kippur, one of the holiest Jewish holidays. Thinking that the Israeli Defense Force would be caught off guard, they mounted a coordinated attack. Israel almost lost that one. Then there is the 1968 Tet Offensive of the Vietnam War. Another holiday, another coordinated attack by the Viet Cong. I guess such is war. There are no rules.
But I would like to think that if the Army were the ones who ambushed some rice-cooking rebels in the jungles of Samar, the AFP would surely not hear the end of it, even from civilian agencies like the CHR. Still, the question now remains as to whether the AFP should go after the snakes, with the ceasefire already in effect, or just chalk this one up to another bloody and unfortunate experience with the NPA.
This conflict has to end. After 41 years of insurgency, the NPA or communism in general has lost its significance. What exactly is the NPA still fighting for? An ideology that has already become so unpopular, it is no longer practiced in its purest form but altered to accept capitalism. Name your country. The peace talks between the government and what is left of the Communist Party of the Philippines have to resume, and put an end to this. Otherwise, after the ceasefire, the dogs of war should be unleashed to finally crush this insurgency. After all, a snake will always be a snake!