The Philippine Online Chronicles

Second-generation politician Ramon Mitra plans to legislate laws that will seek to legalize the communist movement in the Philippines once elected as Senator, the Nacionalista Party senatorial candidate bravely revealed in a Blog Watch interview yesterday at San Juan.

The former Marine officer, who is a son of the late House Speaker and 1992 presidentiable Ramon Mitra, explained that his stand on legalizing the communist movement will be “a big step” towards attaining “peace and understanding” in a “divided nation.”

Communism “must be respected”

“What is wrong with communism? For as long as they will also follow a path for peaceful coexistence with the government and the people, their political views must be respected and recognized,” Mitra said, adding that he also plans to legislate a law that would bring back “communist leaders” in exile, referring to Communist Party of the Philippines-Maoist (CPP) founder Joma Sison and members of the CPP-led National Democratic Front (NDF), who are in exile in The Netherlands. Mitra clarified however that if the CPP-NDF leaders will come back, they must face the charges filed against them.

Mitra also vowed to use his seat for the pursuit of “peaceful negotiations” with armed rebel and secessionist groups, particularly with the CPP-led New People's Army (NPA) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

“The government must not wage a war with these groups. They are our fellow Filipinos. We must not fight against each other,” Mitra said. He then explained that the peace process will be successful if “people's consultation is ensured.”

“Gone are the days when communists wage war only in the mountains. I admire the fact that some of them are engaging in the parliament and in congress to air their clamors,” Mitra said, referring to Bayan Muna (Nation First) representative Satur Ocampo and Gabriela Women's Party representative Liza Maza, who are national democratic left leaders running under the NP senatorial slate.

Mitra added that laws must be written to ensure stricter rules in the issuance and handling of firearms, which, he said, must be patterned after Malaysia's gun laws, in order to pursue “more peace and less violence.”

Aside from the CPP, other underground communist parties and movements in the Philippines are the Marxist-Leninist Partido ng Manggagawang Pilipino-Pinagsanib (Filipino Worker's Party-Merged) and the Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas-1930 (Communist Party of the Philippines-1930).

Government animosity on the communist movement intensified during the Ferdinand Marcos regime at the height of the Cold War between the United States and allied capitalist states (which includes the Philippines) and the communist bloc led by the defunct Soviet Union, China, and Cuba.

During the Joseph Estrada administration, the US declared the CPP and the NPA as “terrorist groups” during the US-led “anti-terrorism” campaign under the leadership of then US President George Bush, Jr.

Under the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo administration, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) intensified its anti-communist campaign, as the number of cases of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances on left activists surged. Two of the most vocal anti-communist figures under the Arroyo administration are former general Jovito Palparan, Jr., who is currently running as an independent in the senatorial race, and former intelligence chief Norberto Gonzales, who is the current Defense secretary.

On fuel resources

One of Mitra's priority agendas is the lowering of the price of oil. He explained that this can be attained by tapping and maximizing the country's rich natural gas reserves.

“We have to invest in building more pipelines and natural gas plants to lessen our dependence on imported oil and coal,” Mitra said. He added that the government must also invest in building domestic coal plants and jatropha fields to provide cheaper and more affordable sources of energy.

To attain this, Mitra explained that the country must fix its peace and order problems “to attract more foreign investors” who will invest in the extraction of alternative fuel.

He also said that the government must take more control of the Philippine National Oil Company instead of fireselling it to private corporations.

However, Mitra rejected the transport sector's call to junk the Oil Deregulation Law, saying that competition among oil players must be “tightened.” Instead, Mitra plans to file a law abolishing the cartel in the oil industry, which, according to him, “is a major cause” in the soaring prices of fuel.

On the poll automation

An owner of a chain of Internet cafes in Metro Manila, Mitra shared his views on the poll automation, which he fully supports.

“I believe in the integrity of [Commission on Elections] Chairman [Jose] Melo. And I believe that with the help of the media, the Filipino voters are now more mature and vigilant in guarding the ballot,” Mitra said.

He warned, however, that poll automation will be problematic in the countryside and far-flung areas due to “lack of connectivity” and “Internet signal.” He suggested that the COMELEC must address the said problem to ensure a “full participation” in the next month's national elections.

Mitra has not held any elective and appointive positions in the past and it is his first time to run in an election.