Introductory note

We are publishing here a translation of the document of the Communist Party of the Philippines regulating the romantic and sexual relationships of party-members. A similar policy has been formulated for members of the armed wing, the New People’s Army.

This is a remarkable document for several reasons, and clearly shows the influence of Catholic morals on the CPP. The document posits the party as a combination of State, Church and Family that intervenes in, and regulates, party-members’ personal lives. In addition, there is no mention of the so-called People’s Democratic Government the CPP claims to be already building, and which is supposed to be the basis of the revolutionary government. One would assume that this institution would officiates marriages - but the document does not distinguish between the CPP and civil authorities.

On the Proletarian Relationship of the Sexes (1998)

March 1998

For the Communist Party of the Philippines, in the course of forming a family and committing to marriage, partners should anchor this to the revolutionary interests of the people. There is a prevailing assumption that ’sex love’ is based on the subjective and personal experience. But as candidate or full members of the party, we should be willing to develop this into ’class love’ guided by the revolution and the party.

A. On Courtship

1. Courtship is the right of every candidate or full members of the Party who are without a spouse or partner. However, this right should be voluntarily subordinated to the guidance and discipline of the Party. However, they should be willing to be guided by the directives of the party.

2. To court, a candidate or full member must get the permission of his/her collective or ’unit.’ If the person of interest is from another collective or unit, the person’s ’unit’ head should ask the other unit and ask their permission for courtship, as long as the person of interest is willing.

3. If a party member or a candidate for membership to the party wishes to court a non-member, there must be sufficient basis that the person being courted has the potential to become a party member within six months.

4. If a candidate or full member is being courted by a party member or a non-member, s/he should immediately seek permission from his/her unit. The person doing the courting should potentially become a member of the party within six months.

5. A candidate or full member of the party is not allowed to court or be courted by somebody who is considered a revolutionary traitor or counter-revolutionary.

6. A candidate or full member who is working as part of a New People’s Army (NPA) unit will not be allowed to court or be courted until they finish their mandated one year program.

7. No candidate or full member is allowed to court or be courted by more than one person in any given time.

8. Before getting married a candidate or full member should be in the relationship no less than one year.

9. A candidate or full member is not allowed to court or be courted until his/her application for divorce has been finalized by the party.

10. Pre-marital sex is discouraged at all times. This is done to protect women from exploitation and to give couples ample time to be ready in building a revolutionary family.

B. On Marriage

1. A marriage is a serious matter, the couple and their respective unit or units must be ready for this.

2. All the requirements for courtship apply to those seeking permission for marriage from any respective unit of the Party.

3. Permission to marry between two individuals is to be discussed and decided by the members of all units concerned

4. After getting the permission for marriage, the couple should choose a comrade who would wed them. The comrade is obligated to facilitate the wedding ceremony, the pledges as well as the signing of the contract.

5. The wedding must be witnessed by at least three individuals, including not less than two full members of the party.

6. Before the wedding the couple, the sponsors and the comrade who would facilitate the wedding must talk and narrate the political evolution of the couple and how their marriage can help them politically.

7. In the ceremony, the comrade who is facilitating the wedding would explain the rights and obligation of the couple in their relationship such as:

a. Their loyalty with each other should be similar to their loyalty to the revolution;

b. Their revolutionary obligation to their soon-to-be children;

c. And their promise to reach out to the party in case of problems within the marriage.

8. While the ceremony is being held, the red flag of the Party symbolizes linking them, they are following the oath specified in the Marriage Contract of the Party:

’’We (provide the name use in the party) are voluntarily united as husband and wife today. As the members (or candidate members) of the Party, we wholeheartedly pledge not to fail in our duty to the revolution and vigorously strive to advance it. We swear to fulfil the obligations to each other and respect the marriage in accordance with the rules of the Party. None of us can separate from our marriage without just cause and without consent of the Party. We have the right to refer to the Party and seek advice on it if we have problems. We are also entitled to file any request in fulfilling our agreement as husband and wife. We swear that none of us will interfere with the overall interests of the revolution and the people.’’

9. Our marriage will take effect after the signing of the marriage ceremony, the sponsor or the officiator will witness the marriage contract.

10. It is preferred that the Party members who first married outside the Party be married in accordance with the ceremony as stated in Numbers 5 – 8 above.

C. On Divorce

1. Since serious thought and preparation was done for the wedding, the Party is trying to prevent divorce and try to solve the problems of the couple

2. Divorce shall be granted when the other spouse is found consistently to prevent revolutionary activities or has become a traitor or rabid counter-revolutionary.

3. Divorce can be granted when required by one of the spouses and there is evidence that the other spouse committed infidelity, bigamy, cruelty or attempts on the life of the other spouse.

4. The divorce is granted in cases where one of the spouses does not fulfil their duties for more than five years, due to obstruction of the enemy or permanent physical disability, upon agreement of the spouses. If the disability is the brain and does not heal, divorce can be granted after three years.

5. The divorce is granted when one spouse voluntarily withdrew two years of responsibility or is lost and has had no contact for five years.

6. The divorce is granted when the couple insists or because of personal disagreements that resulted in the deterioration of relations, and the relationship becomes a big burden to the couple and their activities in the Party. However, the thorough examination is needed to ensure the seriousness for actually asking for a divorce and the conditions thereof, and to prove steps to save the relationship have failed.

7. When there is a divorce, the Party shall ensure the welfare of the children.

8. When one of the spouses granted divorce is not a member of the Party – members will try to explain the grounds for divorce. Evaluation and application of divorce proceedings, should take the side of his partner outside the Party, as long as security conditions permit.

9. The application will be heard and determined by a divorce committee of three to be decided by the leading organ of the couple, but the committee of three cannot be lower than the level of the Party committee section. If penalties need to be imposed in connection with the case of divorce, the committee makes recommendations to the Party.

D. On Disciplinary Actions

D. The following are serious violations of this rule that will incur disciplinary action

1. Denial of married status shall be dealt with by a disciplinary action which is demotion in office.

2. Serious threats and intimidation in courtship shall be dealt with through disciplinary action ranging from a minimum suspension of Party membership to a maximum of expulsion.

3. The use of force in courtship shall be dealt with through a disciplinary action ranging from a minimum suspension of Party membership to explusion.

4. The promising positions, using positions and pretending to have a high position, while courting shall be dealt with through disciplinary action ranging from a minimum demotion in office to one year suspension of membership in the Party.

5. The courtship of married or girlfriends/boyfriends of another will be dealt through a warning, disciplinary action and preaching.

6. Cases of courtship without prior approval produce major security problems and political issues. They shall be subject to disciplinary warning and preaching.

7. Having two or more partners shall be dealt with through disciplinary action ranging, from a minimum demotion from office, transferring the work, to a maximum suspension of membership in the Party.

8. Grave abuses of marriage such as infidelity, having multiple partners, cruelty or attempts on the life of a partner shall be dealt with through disciplinary action, ranging from a minimum suspension of Party membership to expulsion.

Difficult or complicated cases shall be dealt with by someone from the respective committees, who will decide in accordance with the gravity of the violation committed.

In case of criminal offences and with sufficient basis for the court, ensure disciplinary action invoked by the Party and clarify the status by the Party before formally filing criminal charges in court.

The necessary disciplinary action in particular cases will be decided by the respective committees in accordance with the general process defined in the constitution of the party.

The party should ensure the thorough examination of the case and weigh the mitigating circumstances of the case.

In other cases of violations not covered of the terms of marriage within the Party, it shall be aligned with the appropriate committees that will deal with them. Required to document and report them to be dealt with appropriate disciplinary action.

E. On Same-sex relationships

1. The Party recognizes the right of each individual member to choose their gender or sex.

2. The basic principles and guidelines for marriage inside the Party are applicable to their case.

Amended:
10^th Plenum of the Central Committee of the CPP

---