Reports from the Philippine Revolution
Featured image: Demosntration in Manila on 21st of September due to the anniversary of the Martial Law. Source: EFE/EPA/FRANCIS R. MALASIG.
Several actions of the People’s War in the Philippines have been done by the New People’s Army (NPA) have carried out since the last time we reported.
This month several actions that happened in September were reported. On September 10th, the NPA-Bukidnon had a confrontation with the troops of the 89th Infantry Battalion in Quezon. A reactionary soldier was injured and another died. There were no injured reported in the NPA units. This is not the first time that the two units face, since in June there was another confrontation in which there was a dead soldier and three injured by the reactionary army. Three days later, on September 13th, there was an armed confrontation between the troops of the 48th Infantry Battalion that guarded a control post in Quezon. A reactionary army soldier was killed. This action has been well received by the people, since they were suffering abuses and pressures on export control and income in their areas.
In Samar Oriental, there was a confrontation with the 4th Scout Ranger Battalion (SRB) along with the 42nd Infantry Battalion on August 23rd. In total, in this confrontation two 4th SRB soldiers died and three were injured. To hide the great defeat, they decided to declare the city of Can-Avid as “insurgency free.”
On September 20th, an attack on a quarry contractor in Mindoro took place. This company, dedicated to the extraction of rocks, gravel and sand, caused with its activity great floods and landslides. Due to the demand of the people to stop mass mining on the island, the NPA – Mindoro has destroyed an excavator. This punitive action has been very acclaimed by the people, showing that the land can be defended in front of the companies that plunder it.
On September 27th there was a confrontation between the NPA – Northern Quezon and the troops of the 80th Infantry Battalion. Among the reactionary troops there were one dead and two injured, while the revolutionary army did not suffer any casualties. This confrontation resulted in the presence of reactionary troops in the area, troops, who intimidated the people with their presence and harassed them, even killing two civilians. The military presence is not accidental. The people resisted for years the construction of a dam that would expel the indigenous community in the area.
September 21st marks 51 years from the declaration of the Martial Law, day that was marked by massive demonstrations. In the city of Manila, the New Patriotic Alliance Group carried out with it actions in nine provinces and eight overseas countries with the slogan “Martial Law then, Law of Terrorism now”. That same day, concentrations were also held in front of the United States Embassy and the Supreme Court and there were protests in the 12 Universities of Manila.
More than 6,000 people have been reported in the marches in Manila asking for justice for the thousands of victims of the violations of the ‘human rights’. They also took the opportunity to request the repeal of the 2020 Anti-Terrorism Law (ATA). In Baguio, more than 800 young university students marched and in Tacloban actions were carried out within the university.
Banner in the demonstration, it is written in it: “Marcos then, Marcos today: torture, repression and corruption continue!” Source: EFE/EPA/FRANCIS R. MALASIG
The demonstrations were international, highlighting the one in New York on September 18th, held near the Congress. In it, the end of the military aid of the US government and the financing of the Filipino government was demanded. There were also more actions in Australia, Hong Kong, New Zealand, South Korea, Thailand, Japan and Canada.
In addition, a statement has been published on the situation of the Abrenian people. In the area of the province of Abra, large mining companies have great interest, since through mining mega-projects they can plunder the natural resources of the area and thus increase their investment and profits. Continuing with its anti-people and pro-imperialist policies, the State of the Philippines is increasing the militarization of the area and performing greater oppression of the Abrenian people, whose situation worsens day after day.
Marcos’s government has increased the Battalions of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFD), currently being the Infantry Battalions 24th, 102th and 50th. Next to them are battalions of the National Police of the Philippines (PNP) to ensure the implementation of these measures. The Ang Bayan newspaper writes about it: “Their farms and pasture lands are bombed by the AFP. The people are prevented from going far from the center of their villages. A number of hunters were shot by the AFP during their operations. Many villagers were forced by the Army and PNP to surrender. They are compelled to report to the military headquarters whenever they are summoned. They were promised of aid and livelihood such as hogs, but they only got a few heads of chicks. They weren’t even paid yet for their transport fares on these trips. The E-CLIP (Enhanced Community Integration and Livelihood Program) funds are just looted by the military while the innocent people are incessantly put into pressure. To where mining applications and dam projects are located, mercenary troops of the AFP are numerously deployed to terrorize civilians.”
All this to be able to ensure the plunder of the large-scale mining companies. Meanwhile, poor landless peasants or those who only have a small land see their situation increasingly difficult. To be able to deal with their situation, they fish and take care of animals. In addition to working wage labor in construction or agricultural work, where they begin after finishing high school. The children of the people work in domestic tasks from primary school to be able to pay the rates in urban centers, since there are no schools in their areas.
While the people of the Philippines undergo the consequences of the crisis of imperialism, especially world hegemonic power, Yankee imperialism, Marcos Jr. continues to sell to the people to be able to satisfy the interests of large imperialist companies. The State continues to sell its people as cheap labor merchandise both inside and outside the country.
Due to this situation, the statement ends by calling to struggle this system: “The Filipino people has no other choice but to fight for social justice. Ergo, their revolutionary struggle must carry on. The shining historical struggle of the Abra people must be carried forward. They must keep on propagating the revolutionary education, persevere in the people’s revolutionary organization and
firmly and persistently fight for their rights and advance the armed struggle.
Rally the Filipino people’s power and unity to charge and reprimand the Marcoses for their crimes against the people. All gatherings, all forces and all arms must be pointed to punish the US-Marcos Jr. regime.”
