VICTORY FOR THE FILIPINO PEOPLE LIES BEYOND THE ELITIST, VIOLENT AND FRAUDULENT ELECTIONS

Christians for National Liberation
May 12, 2004

"It is written, 'My house shall be a house of prayer'; but you have made it a den of robbers." -- Luke 19:46

Like Jesus Christ who was enraged when the temple was turned into a den of robbers, the Filipino people are enraged that public offices have been turned into highly profitable businesses of the elite. Since 1946, electoral contests in the country have brought only illusions of democracy. The poor masses of workers and peasants, middle class, indigenous people and small business, who comprise the majority of Filipino voters, have been systematically robbed and betrayed by the same breed of politicians who shamelessly cling to power.

The dynasties of big landlords and comprador bourgeoisie are sure to win in the May 10, 2004 polls through massive cheating and violence. All across the nation, massive vote-buying, harassment, killings and attempted killings, intimidation and coercion by the military and private armies of the traditional politicians characterized the latest elections.

The Christians for National Liberation (CNL) condemns the brutal harassment, vilification, killings and all forms of political repression against the genuine representatives of the people who took part in the elections.

History has taught us that these elections will neither result in substantial socio-economic reforms, nor resolve the long-standing problems in the prevailing semi-colonial and semi-feudal Philippine society. There is no hope in achieving genuine land reform, substantial wage increases, job security and other fundamental human rights under the ruling government perpetuated by those who are not interested in reducing or giving up their vested economic and political interests for the sake of the poor.

CNL salutes the people's revolutionary government and the genuine people's army in advancing the people's welfare amidst several decades of the elitist, violent and fraudulent Philippine elections. Every bit of success in increasing the share of poor peasants in their harvest, decreasing land rent and other forms of feudal exploitation in the countryside is a fruit of the collective struggles of the organized peasants. Likewise, every inch of success in increasing wages and benefits, rollback in prices of commodities and repeal of anti-poor economic policies, is gained through revolutionary struggles of the people.

Listen, you rulers of Israel! You are supposed to be concerned about justice, yet you hate what is good and love what is evil. You are building God's city, Jerusalem, on a foundation of murder and injustice. The city's rulers govern for bribes, the priests interpret the Law for pay, the prophets give their revelations for money - and they all claim that the Lord is with them. (Micah 3:1-2, 10-11)

The two leading presidentiables -- Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Fernando Poe Jr.-- enjoy the biggest political and financial backing of the dynasties of big plunderers like the Marcoses, Cojuangcos and the Estradas. GMA accounts for the most shameless abuse of government funds and machinery for her nationwide campaign while FPJ is merely banking on his popularity and has no record in governance.

The people have nothing to gain from these reactionary politicians. They have all to gain from the true defenders of the people, the revolutionary movement. Thus to discredit the CPP-NPA and the NDF, top officials and agents of the reactionary government, including clerico-fascists, social democrats and pseudo-progressives have labeled the NPA's 'permit-to-campaign' as extortion. This smacks of hypocrisy and detestable self-righteousness.

In the rural areas, the masses directly benefit from the social services delivered through the revolutionary taxes while the reactionary government and its various agencies commit massive waste of public funds. Thus, CNL supports the National Democratic Front (NDF) in pointing out that the NPA's permission to electoral candidates and campaigners to enter the territory of the revolutionary government is an exercise of the people's sovereignty rather than plain extortion.

A voice cries: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken." (Isaiah 40: 3-5)

During elections and beyond, CNL reiterates its call for steadfast struggle of all Christians to be in solidarity with the masses of Filipino people in waging revolutionary struggle for genuine democracy, peace and social justice. CNL affirms the justness of waging revolutionary struggle to overthrow the corrupt, fascist and puppet state in the face of extreme poverty and oppression of the Filipino people.

Let us continue to build the broadest united front to overthrow the rotten semi-colonial and semi-feudal system and pave the way for a truly free, democratic and prosperous Philippine society. Let us all persevere in further advancing the revolution. Indeed, victory for the Filipino people lies beyond the elitist, fraudulent and violent elections. Onward with the new democratic revolution!

The Christians for National Liberation (CNL), founded on February 17, 1972, is the underground revolutionary organization of church people and an allied member of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).#