In commemorating the 52nd year of martial law, the revolutionary spirit of the Filipino people together with compatriots in different parts of the world, remains alive and burning. They will never forget the nightmares and widespread violence committed since former dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. declared martial law on September 21, 1972. Thousands were arrested and detained without any charges, experienced cruelty such as torture while others were abducted and disappeared and were later found dead or victims of “salvaging” or what is now known as extra judicial killings or EJKs.
In commemorating the dark chapters of our history, Compatriots-NDFP affirms that our compatriots abroad will continue to fight. Because until now these heinous crimes of martial law continue albeit known under different names – EJK, trump-up charges, “activists are terrorists”. And the poverty suffered by the people then is no different except today it is much worse.
The Compatriots-NDFP, the overseas revolutionary movement and member of the NDFP, is one with the Filipino people in recognizing and honoring the victims of violence during the US-Marcos Sr. regime and subsequent US puppet regimes including the present regime of Marcos II. We honor the cadres and red fighters of the New People’s Army who bravely faced the brutality of the enemy.
Some of the revolutionary cadres who were victims of brutality and various forms of repression from the time of the former dictator to the subsequent regimes, and who were forced to leave the country, continue to raise awareness, organize and mobilize overseas Filipinos for genuine freedom and democracy in the Philippines. They also continue to expose the growing fascism in the country and the rottenness of a semicolonial and semifeudal social system maintained by imperialism, feudalism and bureaucrat capitalism.
After more than four decades and the advance of the anti-fascist and anti-imperialist struggle for genuine democracy, justice and peace in the Philippines, the revolutionary movement in countries and territories overseas continue to expand and consolidate. The continuing existence of the country’s basic problems is proof why an estimated 10 percent of the population of the Philippines are forced to leave the country or caused forced migration.
The suffering of the Filipino people is intensifying. Coupled with this are increasing unemployment and unsustainable wages. On the other hand, the exploitative classes in society continue to amass enormous profits and enjoy a life of extravagance.
The enthronement of Marcos Jr. in Malacañang, was marked by widespread fraud during the 2022 elections. This was committed by the Marcos-Duterte tandem that led to intense conflict and the possible impeachment and removal from office of Vice President Sara Duterte. The current regime also aims to revise history and spread lies and revive the old programs of the former dictator while maintaining anti-people laws such as the Anti-Terror Law, the establishment of the Anti-Terrorism Council and the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF ELCAC) and instruments of repression such as red tagging, trumped-up charges, kidnapping, enforced disappearance, torture, EJK and others.
Therefore, the Compatriots as a revolutionary movement of Filipinos overseas continues to fight against the repression of the people and revolutionary movement, and the revisionism in history. At the same time, as it continues to raise awareness, organize and mobilize a large number of Filipinos overseas and their families it conducts solidarity with other revolutionary and anti-imperialist movements from different countries in the world.
Today, on this 52nd year of commemorating martial law, the Compatriots continues to advance the national democratic struggle with a socialist perspective by contributing to the armed struggle while remembering the historical lessons and experiences of the resistance of the Filipino people during the US- Marcos Sr. regime and the subsequent regimes up to the present.
Once again, revolutionary remembrance and tribute to the victims of martial law!
Fight revisionism in history and advance the national democratic struggle with a socialist perspective!
Down with imperialism, feudalism, bureaucrat capitalism!
