The 3rd Infantry Division (3rd ID) under its commander Maj. Gen. Marion Sison, was so outraged over the Kabataang Makabayan (KM) posters and leaflets the revolutionary organization circulated at the University of the Philippines (UP)-Visayas and West Visayas State University (WVSU) last week. These materials held KM’s calls for the youth to join the New People’s Army (BHB) and a statement for its 60th anniversary on November 30.

In connection with KM’s anniversary, KM-Panay applauded and honored all its chapters and members across the island. They also paid tribute to all the youth who sacrificed their lives and became martyrs as NPA Red fighters. “It is clear to us what our duty as youth who are aware of the true condition of our society: to arouse all young people, unite with the struggle of the toiling masses, and encourage them to pursue armed struggle,” KM-Panay spokesperson Ka Victoria Juven said.

Juven further noted that youth and students in Panay and across the country face numerous issues that fuel their activism. These include inadequate facilities and teachers in schools, ongoing campus repression —including Red-tagging, intimidation, and bans on progressive organizations. State forces and the National Task Force-Elcac infiltrated even private schools for suppression campaigns.

“The government is desperate to prevent the youth and citizens from becoming critical,” the spokesperson said. She emphasized that rising against injustice and fighting to change a rotten system is not a crime, and being revolutionary is most of all not a crime.

KM-Panay called on the youth to dedicate their knowledge and strength to the national democratic revolution by joining the NPA, asserting that this is the only way to achieve a truly free society.

3rd ID is extremely terrified

Following the emergence of KM posters, stickers, and leaflets at two universities in Iloilo, Maj. Gen. Sison became hysterical over what he termed “aggressive actions” by KM, especially since “students are vulnerable to such tactics.” Consequently, he tasked the 3rd ID and directed the Regional Task Force-Elcac 6 to conduct an investigation to hunt those who mounted the posters and circulated NPA recruitment materials.

The 3rd ID is promoting a “coordinated inter-agency response to prevent [KM] recruitment among youth.” As in the past, this would likely lead to another campaign of Red-tagging against legal organizations and youth groups at universities.

The 3rd ID also urged university officials to “actively cooperate” with government forces against what they claim are common enemies—revolutionary organizations. It can be recalled that in 2021, soldiers and police patrolled universities to “cleanse” their libraries and seize all materials and texts deemed “subversive.”