Exploitation of Social Issues

Screengrab of a PowerPoint presentation recovered from a top ranking member of the CPP-NPA-NDF who was arrested in 2019. The presentation details the plans of KADAMAY, a CPP-established organization, pertaining to the plight of the urban poor and informal setlers. As discussed by Ka Victor on the previous page, the CPP-NPA-NDF uses several tactics and strategies to lure urban poor communities into their trap and eventually use them in their propaganda and agitation against the government.The CPP established also Kalipunan ng Samahang Manggagawa at Mahihirap (KASAMA), which is an underground mass

organization inside KADAMAY.  (Source: Captured enemy-documents)

In fighting urban mass movements, Victor emphasized that the main misstep of the government is the woeful lack of counternarrative against the CPP’s tactics.

“For example, kapag nagsabi kami ng Rice Tariffication Law na kontra magsasaka at ito ay sisirain ang buong agrikultura at maapektuhan ang ating food security, hindi mo pa naririnig ang DA [Department of Agriculture] nagpapaliwanag nang maayos or ang NEDA [National Economic and Development Authority]. Isa pang halimbawa, pagdating sa issue ng mga demolition hindi mo naman naririnig ang NHA [National Housing Authority] para magpaliwanag or ang local government kung bakit may nangyaring demolition. Ang naririnig: marahas ang gobyerno, pinapaboran niya ang isa o ilang real estate developers, samantalang kawawa ang mga urban poor. Ang ganitong propaganda ay madaling tumatak sa isipan ng mga tao, lalo na sa mahihirap o mga nahihirapan sa buhay. Kaya dapat ay ipaliwanag maigi ng gobyerno ang mga makataong programa nito [For example, when we say that the Rice Tariffication Law is anti-farmer and that it destroys Philippine agriculture and the food industry, you don’t hear the DA explain the issue properly nor NEDA. Another example, when it comes to issues of demolition, you don’t hear the NHA or the local government explain why the demolitions take place. What is heard is that the government is cruel, that it favors one or a few real estate developers, while the urban poor are left to suffer. Propaganda like this stick easily to the minds of the people, especially to those who are poor or those experiencing hardships in life. The government therefore must clearly explain also its programs that are beneficial to the people],” he explained. 

The problem, Victor said, was that the government does not craft a good enough narrative to counter the emotional logic of the CPP’s statements. Without an explanation from the government that is timely, sincere, and emotionally attuned to the people’s frustrations, what gets communicated is this: “Kaya ang interpretasyon, ang government ay oppressor of the people, ang government ay abusado sa tao [The interpretation of the government is that it is the people’s oppressor, an abusive entity].” 

--THE WARS WITHIN (2020 / Copy&Share)