consolidate the government’s support within the military and counter the future
electoral successes of leftist party-list groups.
In July 2006, the CPP-NPA announced an escalation of guerrilla warfare,
including the creation of special units to target those responsible for political
killings. The previous year the communists had already withdrawn from the
formal talks that began in 2004 with Norway as third-party facilitator, citing a
lack of confidence in the legitimacy and durability of the Arroyo government