DAVAO DEL NORTE—Mula sa mahigit isang dekadang pakikibaka sa kabundukan tungo sa silid-aralan — ito ang makabuluhang landas na tinahak ni Bernabe Cañon, dating deputy secretary ng Regional Ordnance Group (ROG) sa ilalim ng Southern Mindanao Regional Committee (SMRC) ng CPP-NPA-NDF.

But herein lies the truth: former rebels are being called traitors not because we abandoned the people’s cause, but because we stopped obeying the CPP. What we “handed over” was not allegiance to the masses, but the power the Party once had over our lives. And for that, they mark us with the word "traitor" like a scarlet letter, in a desperate attempt to erase our agency, delegitimize our choices, and scare others from following the same path.

OCCIDENTAL MINDORO-- “Bago pa man inilunsad ang programa, buo na ang aking loob at nagbago na ang aking pananaw.” Ito ang wika ni Ka...

“Kaya't nang inabot ng gobyerno ang kanilang kamay, pinili kong sumama sa landas ng kapayapaan,” Ani ni Ka Aryo. “Pinili kong magbalik-loob. Pinili kong piliin ang kapayapaan kaysa sa walang katapusang labanan.”

“The cadres of the CPP within the national democratic movement are deluding themselves due to the ongoing exposure of their deception against the people,” Legaspi told Kontra Kwento. “Facing diminishing options, they are now advocating for a law that would impose penalties on any government officials, employees, and ‘agents’ who are allegedly involved in what they term ‘red-tagging.’”