The latest tool of US-backed counter-insurgency in the Philippines
The National Action Plan for Unity, Peace, and Development (NAP-UPD) is the latest in a long history of US-backed counter-insurgency (COIN) plans of the Philippine government. Under this plan, President Marcos Jr. has brought together his economic development plan and national security strategy, affirming and doubling down on the “whole of nation” approach to COIN established by previous president Duterte. This strategy brings the whole civilian government under the direction of the military, seeking to destroy the people’s movement by means of deceptive surrenders, brutal military campaigns, and development aggression.
How does the NAP-UPD impact the Filipino people?
The regime’s heavy reliance on fear and militarization under the NAP-UPD has a clear impact: countless civilians are caught up in the middle of this brutal campaign, and subjected to state terror every day. In conducting military campaigns under the guise of the NAP-UPD, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) routinely commits war crimes including wanton disregard for civilian life in military actions; militarization of whole communities; as well as killing and forced surrendering of non-combatant activists.
What does “peace” mean for the Marcos Jr. regime?
“Peace” under the NAP-UPD simply entails the silencing of weapons, and more broadly the silencing of the people’s resistance to the current system. The regime posits that the root of poverty in the country is armed conflict and the dangerous ideology of the revolutionary movement. This backwards view supposes that people are poor because they take up arms – rather than taking up arms in response to crushing poverty and exploitation, and in response to violent repression when they assert their demands.
What does “unity” mean for the Marcos Jr. regime?
“Unity” is how the regime frames its attempts to bribe and divide the people’s movement with threats, and with promises of amnesty and economic aid for rebel surrenderees. Starving peasant communities are tricked into signing papers to accept aid, and corrupt politicians report fake surrenders to receive funding. What unity can there be when the richest Filipinos live in luxury while tens of millions live in squalor and poverty?
What does “development” mean for the Marcos Jr. regime?
“Development” is framed as addressing economic injustices so that impoverished Filipinos do not take up armed struggle. However, this development does not address the systemic issues at the root of this poverty. Rather than addressing corruption, land-grabbing by corporations, and the rule of landlord dynasties, the NAP-UPD is oriented to export resources and labor to first world countries, while importing finished goods and technology – deepening the debt and dependency of the Philippines on first world countries.
What does just and lasting peace really look like?
Peace cannot be obtained through the vanquishing of those fighting against exploitation and oppression. Just and lasting peace can only be achieved with a national strategy which genuinely addresses the socioeconomic roots of armed conflict, including: total rejection of unequal trade and military deals; development of a truly independent and self-sustaining economy; equitable distribution of land to farmers; and an end to government rule by the wealthy elites and sellouts.
Support the Filipino people’s call for just and lasting peace!
Abolish NTF-ELCAC!
Junk NAP-UPD!
End US-backed COIN in the Philippines!
