A Glance At The Philippine Left

The current spotlight given to Ronald Llamas, President Aquino’s Presidential Political Adviser, should give us a chance to take a look again at the leftist political parties in the Philippines. Llamas himself represents Akbayan, a political party belonging to the so-called democratic Left in the country.

It is worthwhile to take a closer look at leftist political parties if only for the fact that they are the only ones who really have clear ideologies and party programs (at least compared to traditional parties such as Arroyo’s Lakas-Kampi, Villar’s Nacionalista, or even Aquino’s Liberal Party).

We have recently read an incisive book about the Philippine Left written by Nathan Gilbert Quimpo. The book is entitled, “Contested Democracy” and published by the Ateneo Press. It devotes most of its pages to the travails of Akbayan and other leftist political groupings in the Philippines. It is certainly not the most complete; but comprehensive enough to give us a not-so-current situationer about the Philippine Left.

That among the harshest critics of Llamas had been Representatives Casino and Tinio of the leftist Bayan Muna and ACT, respectively, vindicates Quimpo’s assertions in his book that the communist and socialist groups (both leftists) in the Philippines are not happy with each other’s presence.

There was a time that we thought Akbayan advocates active nonviolence. But Llamas’ AK47 (and four other firearms) seems to substantiate recent reports that Akbayan is already controlled by BISIG (Bukluran sa Ikauunlad Ng Sosyalistang Isip at Gawa), a socialist group which is not exactly known for advocating nonviolence, and to which Llamas reportedly belongs.

We are not admirers of Llamas, nor of Akbayan. But for Bayan Muna and ACT, which are reputed or alleged to be among the legal fronts of the Communist Party of the Philippines, the New People’s Army and National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF), to criticize Aquino or Llamas for carrying guns is the height of hypocrisy. Philippine Communists had been waging a violent war (an armed struggle) against the Philippine government for decades.

So, who’s promoting a “Bang Bang” policy, Teddy?