Communist insurgency in the Philippines

Abstract

In the post Cold War and the collapse of communism in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, the communist insurgents in the Philippines are still a potent force and the main threat to the county's national security. The purpose of this thesis is to examine the issues that brought about the resurgence of the communist insurgency and the counterinsurgency measures undertaken by the government. Economic disparity and injustice are major reasons for people to take up arms against the government. Unless these are resolved, the insurgency problem will continue to persist. A purely military solution to the problem will not solve the communist insurgency in the Philippines. While the CPP is the most potent threat to the security of the Republic of the Philippines, it is not yet in a position to win militarily against the Armed Forces of the Philippines. In the same manner, the Armed Forces of the Philippines could not totally defeat the insurgents for as long as the basic issues that attract or draw the people to the communist movement are not addressed by the government.