“Your vilification of Ka Dahlia cannot erase the truth that thousands of youth have participated and will continue to participate in the revolutionary movement to change the rotten society and change the fate of the nation.”

This is the response of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) to the statements made by the National Task Force-Elcac and officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) describing Ka Dahlia as a “victim of manipulation” by the Party and the New People’s Army.

Ka Dahlia, or Dee Supelanas, was one of seven Red fighters who became martyrs on April 27 during a battle in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental. She was previously a student leader at UP Cebu before joining the NPA in Negros.

“In vilifying Ka Dahlia, in claiming that she was ‘fooled’ or ‘manipulated’ by the CPP, the officials of NTF-Elcac and the AFP demonstrate their lack of intelligence and understanding of the country’s history,” said Valbuena.

He added, “The history of the Philippines is rich with heroes who emerged from the ranks of the intelligent and brave, the best sons and daughters of the nation who stood against oppression and exploitation, and participated in the revolution to overthrow tyrants and foreign invaders.”

“Your vilification of Ka Dahlia and other young martyrs of the people only serves to awaken and encourage the youth,” Valbuena stated. “Ka Dahlia, like hundreds of young revolutionaries, became aware due to the fascism of the AFP and the state. Her death is a direct result of this brutal fascism.”

“Blinded by fascist ideology and satiated by corruption, the AFP and NTF-Elcac cannot understand why the idealism of the youth and their desire for a better future for the entire nation serve as their guiding light on the revolutionary path,” according to Valbuena.

“The youth themselves are suffering from extreme hardship due to high education costs, rising prices of goods, and service charges,” Valbuena said. “Whether they graduate or not, there are no decent jobs waiting for them. If they do find work, they are paid with very low wages or salaries,” Valbuena explained.

“The NTF-Elcac and AFP, along with Marcos himself, are deceiving the youth into believing they have a bright future if they do not speak out or fight,” Valbuena stated. “Their programs in schools and communities that supposedly counter “radicalization’ aim to kill their critical thinking and awareness.”

Under the “counter-radicalization” program, any organization, council, publication, and individual that disagrees with the NTF-Elcac is maliciously linked to the armed movement to justify intimidation, harassment, legal cases, arrests, and worst of all, killings. “It is only right for students to reject the NTF-Elcac in their respective schools.”

“The youth are neither blind nor deaf to the widespread social hardships, exploitation, and oppression, especially the blatant repression of the working masses. By using intimidation and coercion, fascists like the NTF-Elcac and AFP are the ones teaching the youth to fight,” Valbuena said.