We salute the Communist Party of the Philippines on its 57th Anniversary!
For almost six decades, the CPP has led the Philippine revolutionary movement and the revolutionary masses in the fight against US imperialism, feudalism, and bureaucrat capitalism. Its persistence and dedication to fulfill its historical role in advancing the people’s cause has inspired and continues to inspire the masses to rise against their oppressors and exploiters in the face of almost insurmountable difficulties, brutal military assaults, and concerted “whole-of-government” attacks. Its advances and setbacks continue to inform and arouse the youth of the land on the universal truth and historical necessity of a proletarian Party to lead and continue the struggle from generation to generation.
The CPP has built the New People’s Army from 60 poorly-armed Red fighters five decades ago into a nationally extensive, biggest revolutionary armed force in the country’s history which until now is considered by the reactionary ruling classes as the biggest threat to their unmitigated exploitation and oppression of the Filipino people.
It has organized the National Democratic Front of the Philippines as the most consolidated alliance of revolutionary mass organizations and has drawn in other democratic and patriotic forces to unite for peace, independence and democracy.
US imperialism is presently upping its ante in escalating military interventionism all over the Philippines and military provocations at the western and eastern seas in pursuit of its geopolitical and monopolistic ambitions, targetting not only China but the national democratic movement as well.
As the power struggle between the ruling Marcos and Duterte factions, both corrupt and dynastic, threaten to destabilize the ruling system, massive protests against corruption, bureaucrat capitalism, and fascism flood the streets. These are joined by various progressive classes and sectors, especially the youth and also the middle-class professionals, religious and the government sector, even as pseudo-progressives attempt to divide the democratic protest movement by remaining silent on the accountability of Marcos himself to maintain the oppressive status quo.
Basic classes and grassroots sectors meanwhile, reeling under worsening economic conditions, continue with rallies, barricades, camp-outs, and strikes to underscore their long-standing demands for land, jobs and job security, higher wages, housing, and better living conditions.
By raising high the banner of proletarian leadership and persevering in the present rectification movement through education campaigns, the CPP has strengthened and positioned itself to further lead the people in facing the economic and political crises the country faces today.
Under the CPP’s leadership, the NDFP’s allied revolutionary mass organizations in the urban and rural areas continue to expand propaganda and organizing work. In line with the NDFP’s 12-point program, these mass organizations also call on more and more youth to join the ranks of the people’s army or work with the revolutionary peasant movements in the countryside.
The NDFP supports the current demand of the progressive movement for a transition council inasmuch as it is a legitimate assertion of people’s aspirations for participation of democratic forces in the process of political reform. But only an armed revolution to topple the existing dictatorship of landlords, comprador big-bourgeoisie and bureaucrat-capitalists, and the consequent establishment of a people’s democratic government will ensure the reality of genuine reforms and social change.
The NDFP hails and supports the Party’s leadership of the national democratic revolution and will continue to take on its part in the rectification campaign, serving as one of the Party’s steadfast arms together with the New People’s Army, as the Philippine revolution continues to inspire peoples’ struggles in other countries until total victory is achieved not only in our motherland but all over the world.
Elias Dipasupil
NDFP General-Secretary
