The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) yesterday ordered its armed wing to intensify attacks against the embattled government of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, which it said could be ousted "before the middle of next year."
On the eve of the 37th anniversary of its founding, the CPP said it was prepared to join forces with other groups, including factions in the military and police, trying to remove Arroyo from office because of vote-rigging allegations and other corruption charges.
It ordered the New People's Army (NPA), its armed wing, to step up offensives against government and pro-Arroyo targets as part of the campaign to topple the government.
"In accordance with its revolutionary mission, the CPP has directed the NPA to intensify guerrilla warfare on a nationwide scale and on the basis of an ever widening and deepening mass base," the party's central committee said in a statement.
"The NPA tactical offensives are meant to strengthen the armed revolution and to weaken the Arroyo regime," it added.
"They are best directed at the pro-Arroyo elements of the military and police and the worst of the human-rights violators."
The military and police have been on heightened alert in anticipation of possible attacks by the rebels to mark their anniversary on Dec. 26.
A two-day Christmas truce unilaterally declared by the government expired at midnight yesterday. Another two-day ceasefire would be in effect on Dec. 31 to Jan. 1.
The CPP, which refused to declare a holiday truce, said conditions were "rife enough" for the overthrow of Arroyo, who has been accused of conniving with a senior elections official to rig the results of the presidential vote in May last year.
"The broad united front of the legal forces of the national democratic movement; the anti-Arroyo conservative political parties, coalitions and movements; and the anti-Arroyo military and police commands and units have been developing since June," it said.
"The regime can be ousted as soon as the aforesaid three major parts of the broad united front do their best in mobilizing their respective forces and coordinating altogether for the decisive moment."
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