The year 2006 was marked by intensification of the conflict between the government
and the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing,
the New People’s Army (NPA). In the wake of the state of emergency declared
in February, the armed forces denounced what it said was a “tactical alliance”
among disgruntled military factions, politicians, and various leftist groups plotting
to oust Arroyo.
The government’s ire, however, has largely focused on the legal left groups,
which the military claims act as fronts for the communists. On February 28,
police filed rebellion charges against more than 50 prominent left leaders in-
cluding top communist cadres exiled in the Netherlands and members of leftist
party-list groups who have been elected to Congress. Many of those on the
charge sheet were involved in the peace talks with the government. In October
cases were also filed against non-left members of the “tactical alliance,” appar-
ently to tighten the noose on the broad left opposition and to beef up charges
against the military mutineers.