Revolutionary scientists and those in the science and technology sector, led by the Liga ng Agham para sa Bayan (LAB), are now valiantly upholding the call last December 2023 by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) for a rectification movement. LAB announced this in the editorial of its publication Agham Bayan last April. It said launching the movement in their sector will contribute to the overall advancement of the revolutionary movement in the country.

As part of compliance to the rectification movement, it is boldly expanding LAB. It said its groups and chapters in schools and offices have been increasing and functioning continuously in the past year. It enhanced the consolidation of LAB memberships.

The organization implemented continuous studies in revolutionary writings such as Philippine Society and Revolution, Specific Characteristics of Our People’s War, and Special Mass Courses. Along with these, the “direct participation of members [of LAB] in various revolutionary activities” is unwavering.

The strengthening of LAB as an organization, and of 17 other revolutionary organizations, is the basis of the strength of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) as a united front of the revolutionary movement.

In the CPP’s statement on the NDFP’s 51st anniversary on April 21, the Party stressed that “there is great urgency to strengthen and expand the NDFP and its allied organizations…amid the deepening crisis of semi-colonial and semi-feudal society.”

Meanwhile, the LAB’s team of scientists, engineers, and technologists continues to grow. They said it was the key to promoting mass campaigns that promote the rights and well-being of the people. It promoted the campaign against anti-people and anti-environmental reclamation projects and commercial mining.

LAB also participated in various fights such as raising workers’ wages, against the jeepney phaseout, demanding justice for victims of human rights violations, removing confidential funds, exposing fraud in the 2022 election, fighting against SIM card registration, and much more.

In addition, LAB continues to strengthen engagement with international organizations to promote civil rights and climate justice. “LAB promoted solidarity with people worldwide in the framework of strengthening the anti-imperialist struggle and obtaining support for the national democratic revolution in the Philippines,” according to the Agham Bayan editorial.

In the past year, they have also increased the support sent to the New People’s Army (NPA) and the revolutionary movement. In the same issue of Agham Bayan, a unit of the NPA expressed gratitude to LAB for their support late in 2023.

“With the enemy’s attacks on our ranks intensifying and in the midst of the hardships and sacrifices the Army is facing, it is gratifying to know that we have reliable comrades from your sector who are ready to contribute support and material assistance to our advancement of the armed struggle,” according to the unit’s letter. They also sent photos of the painted artwork to thank the organization.

Re-strengthening

Even before LAB’s declaration of support of the rectification movement, it has already confirmed the need to strengthen their organization in the Second Congress launched on December 12, 2020. With the theme “Expand and strengthen the Liga ng Agham para sa Bayan, contribute in the development of the revolutionary mass movement and armed resistance in the countryside,” they affirmed the organization’s principles and stance. It also re-published the newspaper Agham Bayan beginning December 2021 and continuing to the present.

LAB was founded on December 25, 1975 by members of the Progresibong Samahan sa Inhinyerya at Agham at Samahan ng Makabayang Syentipiko. It was part of the fight against the US-Marcos dictatorship.

It weakened in the late 1980s, after being affected by the revisionism and sectarianism that then dominated the entire revolutionary movement. Its major flaws include sectoralism and legalism. Expansion and consolidation also weakened.

Along with the entire revolutionary movement, the LAB reaffirmed the basic principles of the people’s democratic revolution in the early 1990s. In 1996, it launched the First Congress to rebuild and expand the organization.