Lupon ng Manananggol para sa Bayan – Bicol (LUMABAN-Bikol) proudly stands in solidarity with the entire revolutionary movement in the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP). For five decades, the CPP never wavered in advancing the interests of the masses and in pushing for a just and peaceful society.

In the current social system, laws are always flexible, if not explicitly disregarded, to favor the ruling class but constantly rigid whenever the marginalized and oppressed are concerned. Laws serve as an instrument for the elite to further their interests. Just recently, the US-Duterte regime has placed the whole country under a state of national emergency. Bicol is one of the regions focused in the recently issued Memorandum Order No. 32 (MO32). A National Task Force (NTF) to end insurgency has been created, legalizing extrajudicial killings and human rights violations. The fascist regime is putting is full effort into criminalizing the exercise of legitimate and democratic rights. The reactionary state has continuously hunted down advocates of human rights. This year, trumped up charges have been filed over hundreds of Bicolanos and 36 extrajudicial killings have been recorded. Alfredo “Ka Bendoy” Merilos, an NDFP consultant, was also mercilessly killed while undergoing medical treatment.

Meanwhile, corrupt and treacherous masterminds run scot-free. Hundreds of cases of human rights violations remain unresolved. Elements of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) wreak havoc in communities — occupying civilian structures, threatening the masses in order to displace them and killing anyone who dares get in their way. The government itself has been transformed into a military bureaucracy, with former CIA-supported generals and US loyalists given positions in departments, bureaus, and agencies. Lawyers who do side with the poor are considered criminals — threatened, persecuted, or worse, cold-bloodedly killed.

But the revolutionaries whom the reactionary state tags as criminals and terrorists are those who genuinely desire justice and peace. In the countryside, the Party has taken long strides in organizing and building organs of political power. People’s Courts are formed to hear the grievances of masses. Party documents advancing people’s rights have been implemented in guerilla zones way before the reactionary government has ever even participated in a convention respecting such. Justice is attained based on objective basis, not based on power, influence and wealth.

This 50th anniversary of the CPP, LUMABAN-Bikol reiterates its dedication in forwarding the interests of the masses. We call on our fellow lawyers to utilize their creativity and knowledge as weapons to protect the poor and marginalized. Now, more than ever, lawyers should stand in the forefront of the people’s battle — exposing and opposing the fascist US-Duterte regime, frustrating one puppet regime after another.

Lawyers of the people, dare to struggle! Dare to win!
Serve the people, join the New People’s Army!