With the 2025 mid-term elections closing in, the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) issued a statement last January 16 directing the New People’s Army to protect the Filipino people’s interest and welfare amid the reactionary elections.

In a statement issued by CPP Chief Information Officer Marco Valbuena, the CPP underscored how big warlords and political dynasties are locking into each other’s horns as the election season brews ever closer and how it poses a great risk to the masses.

“In the face of the reactionary election campaign, the CPP directs the NPA to ensure protection of people’s rights and interests. Commands of the NPA at different levels across various regions must strictly enforce standing policies of the people’s democratic government in relation to the conduct of the reactionary elections within their areas of operation,” Valbuena stressed.

Valbuena highlights that all political candidates vying for seats are to be reminded of the revolutionary government’s policies when seeking to campaign in areas within the area of operations of the NPA. Nevertheless, “these candidates and their supporters will be allowed to conduct their election campaigns in accordance with established guidelines,” said Valbuena.

“Among others, politicians are prohibited from bringing armed goons and police and military escorts that usually serve to intimidate the people. Other forms of coercion, use of armed violence will not be tolerated, especially by bureaucrat capitalists who use public funds against the people. The NPA has standing orders to sieze the weapons of candidates and their armed goons.”

In the statement, Valbuena also added that the NPA is drected to target AFP and PNP units, as well as armed goons of reactionary politicians, who will use the election campaign in the guerilla zones as cover for conducting surveillance operations against the Party, the NPA, the people’s democratic government and the revolutionary masses.

Politicians seeking to campaign in NPA-operated areas were also reminded to inform and coordinate with local NPA units “to avoid any incidents, including confrontations between armed goons of rival politicians.”

Furthermore, Valbuena condemend the AFP for using “the upcoming elections as cover for intensifying counterinsurgency operations marked by heightening political repression and reinforcing military control of rural villages.”