The entire revolutionary movement in Rizal province under the National Democratic Front of the Philippines-Rizal salutes Comrade Gadioso Cuyag, a former peasant leader turned New People’s Army Red Fighter who was martyred last 20 March 2014. He will be buried today, 26 March 2014.

Comrade Gadioso Cuyag, also known as Ka Dodo/Ka William, was a peasant leader victimized by land grabber Rebecca Estabillo in cahoots with corrupt officers of government agency Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and corrupt local government official in Rizal province. He became the leader of the peasant organization in their place to fight for their rights to own the lands they were tilling. Instead of getting the justice he deserved, the government branded him as communist and was continuously harassed, and his life and family threatened.

With these experiences, he realized the futility of legal processes and was forced to seek justice through armed means. He joined the Pambansang Katipunan ng Magbubukid (PKM), the underground organization of the Filipino peasants. He left the legal peasant organization he led last April 2011 and eventually joined the NPA-Rizal. From then on, he became one of the brave Red fighters of the Narciso Antazo Aramil Command NPA-Rizal. He always volunteers to join any tactical offensive to be launched.

When the appropriate Party organization and NPA higher command in Rizal Province formed a unit for military work in the first quarter of this year 2014, he volunteered to be included in this unit. He was part of the NPA unit that launched the successful tactical offensive against government troops last 3 and 7 March 2014. He was the leader of the assaulting team in the 20 March 2014 NPA ambush of the combined elements of the 16th and 59th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army, that resulted to the killing of three government soldiers and seriously wounding of another member of the paramilitary CAFGU-PA. He was hit by enemy fire in the course of the firefight while assaulting the enemy position and died instantly.

We salute and praise Comrade Gadioso “Ka William” Cuyag, who died fighting for the rights and welfare of the Filipino people. At the age of forty, he became a martyr of the peasant class and of the Filipino people.

We are grieving for his untimely death but we will turn our grief into bravery, and resolve to pursue the revolutionary struggle and to contribute to bring the people’s war from the current strategic defensive stage to the next higher stage, the strategic stalemate.

To the families and friends of Comrade Gadioso “Ka William” Cuyag, we offer our heartfelt condolence. We are with you in your mourning of Comrade William’s death. As we bury his body today, we promise to give justice to Comrade Gadioso and to the Filipino people who are victims of state repression and class oppression. Comrade Gadioso’s death will not be in vain. The gun that fell off from Comrade Gadioso’s hand will be taken by many others who will continue his fight.

Red Salute to Comrade Gadioso Cuyag!
Long live the Comrade Gadioso Cuyag!
Long live the New People’s Army!
Long live the Filipino People!