Inside the defector programmes battling to keep peace in the Philippines - The New Humanitarian puts quality, independent journalism at the service of the millions of people affected by humanitarian crises around the world
Labor Day press conference (Screengrab) DAVAO CITY - Former rebels who operated in Davao de Oro (formerly Compostela Valley) admitted they aimed to agitate workers of big corporations and lure them into the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA). Arman Blase, former spokesperson of Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) in Southern Mindanao, said in a Labor Day press conference on Sunday organized by the local government of Davao de Oro that one of their first goals was to establish labor unions. "We will observe and ask what their issues are as workers and soon they will be radicalized. When they are angry enough, they can now be mobilized for strikes or protests," he said. Blase said he started as a full-time member of the KMU in 2008 but the CPP-NPA's activities were already active as early as 1997. "Agitating workers is the fastest way to increase our recruitment. When there are many members joining the protests, then we can start to extort from the
Labor Day press conference (Screengrab) DAVAO CITY - Former Communist Party of the Philippines - New People's Army (Cpp-NPA) rebels who operated in Davao de Oro (formerly Compostela Valley) admitted they aimed to agitate workers of big corporations and lure them into the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA). Arman Blase, former spokesperson of Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) in Southern Mindanao, said in a Labor Day press conference on Sunday organized by the local government of Davao de Oro that one of their first goals was to establish labor unions. "We will observe and ask what their issues are as workers and soon they will be radicalized. When they are angry enough, they can now be mobilized for strikes or protests," he said. Blase said he started as a full-time member of the KMU in 2008 but the CPP-NPA's activities were already active as early as 1997. "Agitating workers is the fastest way to increase our recruitment. When there are man