Revolutionary salute to cadres and comrades, to the martyrs of the people’s protracted war! Let us continue the struggle for national liberation and genuine democracy!
On the 49th anniversary of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), the revolutionary united front organization of the Filipino people fighting for freedom and democratic rights, Kabataang Makabayan-Southern Mindanao Region offers the highest revolutionary salute to the martyrs of the people’s revolution and calls for justice for all the victims of state-perpetuated killings and violence.
We will always remember and greatly honor the lives of NDFP Peace Consultant Ezequiel Daguman who was abducted and murdered by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) last month while en route to New Corella, Davao del Norte for a consultation with a peasant community in the area, NDFP Peace Consultant Pedro Codaste who was also abducted and summarily executed by the AFP last January while recovering from various illnesses in Bukidnon, Randy Malayao, Randall Echanis, Reynaldo Bocala, and all martyrs who dedicated their lives and died in pursuit of unifying all progressive forces to advance the people’s struggle and end U.S. imperialism, landlords, big compradors, and oligarchs.
However, we must also go beyond remembering and honoring their lives. Now more than ever, we must embody their revolutionary spirits and continue the fight for national liberation, true democracy, genuine agrarian reform, national industrialization, and other social and economic reforms.
The common Filipino people bear the brunt of the country’s worsening economic situation coupled with the health crisis aggravated by the government’s inadequate pandemic response. The number of Filipino people suffering from poverty increased by around 3.8 million between 2018 and 2021, while the national government’s incurred debt is already at PHP 12.03 trillion which will be paid using the taxes of the masses. Worst, the people’s legitimate demands are met with fascism, injustice, and oppression.
These immensely dire conditions are the reasons why the revolution can never be deterred by the state and its forces. The people want a society where farmers till their own lands, workers have livable wage and are regularized, health care and social services are not privatized, and our education system is nationalistic, scientific, and mass-oriented.
It is for these same reasons that the people continue to wage the struggle unbowed and with fervent revolutionary optimism. Indeed, the revolution is for the people.
To our fellow Filipino youth, to the marginalized and oppressed masses, let us carry on with the national democratic revolution just like Daguman, Codaste, Malayao, Echanis, Bocala, and all martyrs before us. Let us become unceasing in doing political tasks to complete the struggle for national liberation and genuine democracy.
March onward to the victory of the people’s struggle! AMPLIFY THE REVOLUTION!