Philippine Communists Mark 18th Anniversary of Party, Call for Anti-Imperialist ‘People’s War’

Rebels Friday accused President Corazon Aquino of being subservient to foreign interests and called for a “people’s war” as they celebrated the 18th anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines.

The party’s Central Committee said the government’s plan for ending Marxist insurgency “leaves unchallenged the continued role of U.S. imperialism” in the Philippines, a former American colony.

A cease-fire in the nearly 18-year-old rebellion has been in effect since Dec. 10. Government and rebel negotiators who worked out the truce are to meet Jan. 6 to begin substantive talks on ending the fighting.

‘Reinstates Old Fetters’

A party statement also claimed that a draft for a new national constitution, completed in October by an Aquino-appointed commission, “reinstates the old fetters to the achievement of national liberation and democracy.”

The Communist Party controls the rebel New People’s Army, estimated to have 23,500 combatants.

Gen. Fidel V. Ramos, armed forces chief of staff, placed the Philippine military on full alert for Friday’s anniversary celebrations. A military statement said the order was “to ensure that we will not fall into the same fate suffered by Vietnam, Cambodia and Nicaragua.”

At a rally near Orion on the Bataan peninsula about 30 miles west of Manila, between 50 and 70 guerrillas raised their rifles as a speaker read a manifesto declaring the Aquino government “anti-nationalist, anti-people and pro-imperialist.”

“The Filipino people’s problems can only be solved through a people’s war,” the manifesto said. “Let us defend and protect the revolutionary movement and expose the right-wing direction being taken by the Aquino government . . . and increasing U.S. military influence over Aquino.”

Feb. 2 Plebiscite

The draft charter is scheduled to be put to a plebiscite Feb. 2. Among other things, it permits the United States to maintain military bases in the country indefinitely if Washington and Manila ratify a treaty after U.S. leases on Subic Bay Naval Base and Clark Air Base expire in 1991.

The leftists want the U.S. bases shut down.

Before the rally, a convoy of about 20 rebel vehicles drove through two towns on Bataan proclaiming Communist slogans. A rival convoy of about six vehicles also covered the area blaring anti-Communist slogans through a bullhorn.

‘Fascist Structures’ Assailed

The party has called for the abolition of what it called “fascist structures” left over from deposed President Ferdinand E. Marcos, “promotion of people’s livelihood and welfare, assertion of national dignity and sovereignty and concrete measures for a lasting peace.”

The government has offered a peace program including measures for economic recovery, social improvements and “amnesty with honor.”

The leftist opposition has called, among other things, for a share of power in a transitional government. But government officials have said any concessions to the rebels must be in line with the draft constitution.

Aquino’s spokesman, Teodoro Benigno, said the rebels cannot disregard the constitution, because it embodies the “will of the people.” Benigno said that if the Communists refuse to modify their positions, the talks in the coming year will be “a dialogue with the deaf.”

Imelda Marcos in Tears

Meanwhile, former First Lady Imelda Marcos, choking back tears, vowed in a radio interview that she and her exiled husband will return to the Philippines to help the poor.

In an interview broadcast on the pro-Marcos DZEC radio, Imelda Marcos said it was “painful for us to be away from those we love this Christmas.”

Aquino wrested power from the former strongman in a popularly backed military uprising last Feb. 25. Marcos and his family fled to Hawaii.

“We will not stop until we can be with you again,” said Imelda Marcos, fighting back tears. “Rest assured we will return.”

She said the “small, weak and the downtrodden” were the main beneficiaries of her husband’s 20-year rule.