Communism in the Philippines

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Communism in the Philippines emerged in the first half of the 20th century during the American Colonial Era of the Philippines.^[1] Communist movements originated in labor unions and peasant groups. The communist movement has had multiple periods of popularity and relevance to the national affairs of the country, most notably during the Second World War and the Martial Law Era of the Philippines. Currently the communist movement is underground and considered an insurgent movement by the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

The Communist movement in the Philippines officially began in 1930 with the establishment of the Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas (Communist Party of the Philippines).^[2] The party was outlawed in 1932 by a decision from the Supreme Court, but was technically legalized in 1938.^[1] It then merged with the Partido Sosyalista ng Pilipinas (Socialist Party of the Philippines) and played a part in guerrilla warfare against the Japanese during the Second World War by way of the Hukbong Bayan Laban sa Hapon (HUKBALAHAP, The Nation's Army Against the Japanese).^[3] After the war, the PKP vacillated between taking a moderate stance and launching an armed insurrection. A series of setbacks culminated in the surrender of Luis Taruc,^[2] the Huk Supremo, and the liquidation of the PKP.^[4] The PKP was again officially outlawed by the government, this time by virtue of Republic Act 1700, or the Anti-Subversion Act.^[5]

In 1968, the Communist Party of the Philippines was reestablished by Jose Maria Sison (writing under the pseudonym Amado Guerrero).^[6][4] Its military arm, the New People's Army, was formed the next year^[7] and was headed by Bernabe Buscayno (under the nom de guerre "Commander Dante"). The CPP-Mao Tse Tsung Thought splintered from the old PKP, clashing with it ideologically, reflecting the Sino-Soviet Split. Its united front, the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, was established in 1973.

The CPP played a prominent role in the resistance against the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos. The NPA was the largest armed force that took up arms against the dictatorship.^[8] However, differences in ideology, strategy and tactics, and errors including the CPP's decision to boycott the 1986 Philippine presidential election^[6][9] led to a split in the CPP between "re-affirmists" and "rejectionists".^[10] The CPP is still currently the largest communist movement in the Philippines, waging protracted people's war against the Philippine government while also engaged in on-and-off peace negotiations.^[11]