European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - March 16, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse Aquino Victor problem for insurgents associated press c communist insurgency in the Philippines has suffered a major setback but May rebound if the new government of president Corazon Aquino fails to end abuses by landlords and the military in the provinces Western analysts say. Rebel ranks have swelled at a rate of about 20 percent a year. . Officials say from 16,000 to 20,000 fighters now operate in virtually every province. Richard l. Armitage the . Assistant Secretary of defense warned in november that a communist Triumph appeared Likely unless the regime of then president Ferdinand e. Marcos carried out vigorous Marcos was ousted feb. 25, and Aquino has freed political prisoners and promised reforms. Marcos was their Best ally and Aquino has now removed some of their major planks. The insurgents have taken a bad beating said one Western Diplomat speaking on condition of anonymity. He said the communists by refusing to take sides in the Aquino Marcos showdown could hardly reap gains from the basically Middle class people s Power uprising that toppled Marcos. The communists and Radical leftist groups boycotted the feb. 7 presidential elections proceeding Marcos fall. Marcos fled to Hawaii via Guam. Jose Maria Sison founder of the communist party of the Philippines said upon his release from nine years imprisonment that Aquino s Victory presented an immediate problem for the insurgents. But he said that while Marcos fascism had been erased imperialism and feudalism a reference to . Military bases and exploitive landlords still remained. The secretive communist party of the Philippines and its armed Wing the new people s army have yet to Issue any authoritative statement. Aquino s political affairs minister Antonio Cuenco proposed creating a commission that would Grant rebels amnesty if they Lay Down their arms. Aquino was quoted in an interview with the West German news Magazine Der Spiegel As saying she has had contacts with the rebels but so far has been unable to reach agreement with them on terms of a cease fire. She was quoted As saying she has not discussed legalizing the communist party with the rebels and there has been no indication that they would like to be most analysts say it is too Early to predict the future a photo insurgents have suffered a setback with the Victory of the Aquino Campaign but any faltering on the government s part could give a shot in the Arm to the communist cause. Of the insurgency. But government officials Western diplomats and freed political prisoners interviewed by the associated press have described two possible scenarios the Triumph of Liberal democracy Aquino s government converts people s Power into an attractive substitute for armed insurgency. The ruined Economy aided by ., japanese and world Bank Aid rebounds and distributes its fruits More equitably. Vast plantations where workers toiled under conditions reminiscent of the Spanish colonial Era Are reformed and living conditions improve. The government and military purge officials who bled the Countryside during the Marcos Era through extortion inefficiency and murder. Peasants no longer need to cooperate with or seek Justice from the new people s army. University students once alienated by the insensitive Jet set Manila lifestyle see Hope for change through the system and reject organizations such As the communist backed National democratic front leftist coalition. An amnesty persuades most insurgents to disarm and in several years Only a Small band of communist ideologues remain in the Hills. A communist Victory the 20-year legacy of Marcos Rule proves too entrenched. Military officers who turned on Marcos and now Wield considerable Power lock horns with the civilian leadership. The Cabinet an elitist group itself lacks the will to uproot privileged industrialists and Plantation owners. Political warlords and their private armies which flourished under Marcos continue to terrorize Rural areas. The military As it did under Marcos worries More about acquiring Parade Field weaponry than boots for its soldiers in the Field. Reassess their situation by Barbara Gamarekian new York times the Washington based coalition against the Marcos dictatorship plans a name travel agencies Are offering Cut rate people Power airfares Back to Manila. And there is talk in Washington s filipino american Community of sending Over a filipino american peace corps to help in reconstruction. For the estimated 25,000 filipino americans who live in the Washington metropolitan area and the several Hundred anti Marcos filipinos who came to the capital Over the years seeking political Asylum these Are tumultuous times. Ferdinand e. Marcos no longer rules. What now events happened so suddenly people have to take Stock says Armin Alforque director of the congressional task Force of the philippine Solidarity network whose office has been flooded with phone Calls from filipinos who want to help with the Page 16 stars and stripes reconstruction of their country. Quite a Tew Are making plans to go Back and some have already left to go Back for a visit he said. But Many who came Here fleeing a dictatorship Are now settled Here. They have found their lives have Charito Planas the first woman to direct the philippine chamber of Commerce who says she was arrested by the Marcos government and jailed for 14 months without charges is heading Home. In her eight years in Washington she has worked with the friends of the filipino people and supported herself with such Odd jobs As driving a pizza truck. But she is leaving and plans a permanent stay unless she says i am arrested again there Are still vestiges of Marcos Over on the other hand Dina Maynigo daughter of Raul s. Mang Lapus a former senator in the Philippines who lived in the United states in exile for 13 years before he rushed Home to Manila is one who does not contemplate a permanent return. A lot of us would like to go Back and Forth she sunday March 16, 1986 explained. We Are talking about organizing a sort of peace corps kind of program so that filipino americans doctors economists and others can take sabbaticals and help in the Maynigo is a Counselor at american University in Washington. Her husband Benjamin Maynigo who works for the asian Pacific american chamber of Commerce is heading for the Philippines with a group to look into possible investments in the Homeland by filipino americans. He and other filipino american leaders met recently with officials at the White House to discuss How the private sector and the . Government could cooperate on development programs. The sudden turn of events in Manila has left Many of the Washington filipino lobbying groups in momentary disarray. What will the coalition against the Marcos dictatorship do now what will it Call itself we Haven t decided said John Melegrito its coordinator. A Telephone Call to the office of the movement for a free Philippines is answered with a recorded message
