Amid the fascist repression of the Marcos regime and the Dutertes in Davao City, Kabataang Makabayan Southern Mindanao Region (KM-SMR) members launched a poster operation (OD) in the city on September 20. The revolutionary group also distributed copies of Ang Bayan concurrent with the activity.

KM-SMR timed their OD on the eve of the Filipino people’s marking of the 53rd anniversary of the declaration of martial law. They condemned the dark era of dictatorship and the perpetuation of the current Marcos regime’s legacy of fascism and plunder inherited from his dictator father.

They held the regime accountable for the exposed corruption in government involving flood control projects and other infrastructure. They also held the Dutertes accountable for corruption and multiple crimes against the Filipino people.

According to KM-SMR, Marcos and Duterte are not different from each other as both emerged from and represent the bureaucrat-capitalist system, which operates the government as a business endeavor.

“The people’s anger blazes over corruption issues involving billions plundered by politicians and contractors from the masses,” KM-SMR spokesperson Karina Magtanggol said. “The funds are pocketed by a few instead of serving the people,” she stated.

KM-SMR particularly distributed the September 7 issue of Ang Bayan, which discussed the Communist Party of the Philippines Central Committee’s call to assault the US-Marcos regime’s corruption with protests. “The people’s aspiration for social justice, genuine democracy, and freedom can only be achieved through revolutionary armed struggle,” its editorial stated.

“Every passing day strengthens the people’s resolve that reforming the rotten system is not the solution,” Ka Karina said. She asserted that every day proves that revolution is necessary to achieve genuine social change.

Ka Karina stated that the intensifying crisis the Filipino people face continue to increase the KM-SMR membership. “The youth now realize the value of revolution. Their aspirations soar higher now: to win the people’s revolution,” she said.

She added that the youth know they cannot achieve this alone. “They must unite with the exploited and oppressed masses, especially the workers and peasants,” Ka Karina explained.

In the Davao region, KM-SMR said that its members are now actively overcoming conservatism and external attacks particularly threats of harassment, surveillance, militarization, and the de facto martial law in Mindanao.

“Amid fascism in SMR and throughout the entire Mindanao, the state’s reactionary forces cannot suppress the people’s blazing anger. The people will strike back with their fury against reactionaries like Marcos, Duterte, and the mercenary AFP-PNP,” Ka Karina said.