Manila: Despite its decades-long existence, the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), together with its allied groups, has failed in its mission to establish a communist state in the Philippines supposedly focused on the needs of the masses, a government task force official said Monday.

According to Philippines News Agency, Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr., executive director of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), stated that the CPP, along with its armed wing, the New People's Army (NPA), and its legal arm, the National Democratic Front (NDF), must acknowledge their failure after 57 years of conflict. The CPP was formally established on December 26, 1968, by Jose Maria "Joma" Sison, who passed away in exile in the Netherlands in December 2022.

Torres emphasized that the CPP's "violent strategy" to seize political power has collapsed due to its own shortcomings. He pointed out that the promises made to the early followers of the movement have not materialized. Instead, he noted that the movement resulted in the loss of tens of thousands of Filipino lives, predominantly affecting the poor, rural, and indigenous communities.

Describing the CPP as an outdated organization, Torres asserted that it remains trapped in a bygone era, using language and slogans that no longer resonate in the current global context. He criticized the group's claims of strength, highlighting that they are based on rhetoric and isolated incidents of violence that contribute to its gradual decline.

The NTF-ELCAC has reported a significant decrease in the number of NPA rebels, estimating their numbers to be around 780, compared to the 25,000 during the group's peak in the 1980s. Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. has reiterated the Marcos administration's commitment to improving the lives of former rebels who choose to embrace peace.

Under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s peace agenda, former communist insurgents are encouraged to participate in the national government's socio-economic projects and amnesty program. This initiative aims to address their legal issues and support their reintegration into mainstream society. In 2023, Marcos issued Proclamation 404, granting amnesty to former CPP, NPA, and NDF members who have committed crimes under the Revised Penal Code and Special Penal laws for political reasons, among other offenses.