The National Democratic Front (NDF) – Ilocos congratulates the New People’s Army (NPA) as it celebrates 50 years of resolute armed struggle against the enemies of the people. The revolutionary forces of the Ilocos provinces extend their highest recognition to members and commanders of the only genuine army of the Filipino people.

A red salute to all the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the people’s democratic revolution. Their contribution will always be a guiding light to all revolutionary.

All efforts and sacrifices of the Red army to advance the people’s struggle point to its dedication to serve the oppressed and exploited classes of the Philippine society. In turn, the people’s support and active participation in the armed revolution is what enables the NPA to continue thriving against the ruling class’ ruthless but futile attempts to defeat the People’s Democratic Revolution. The inevitable victory of the armed struggle is the logical outcome of such dialectical relationship between the people and its revolutionary army. The NDF – Ilocos reaffirms that only through armed struggle can national democratic victory be achieved over the three basic problems of imperialism, feudalism and bureaucrat capitalism.

If not for the NPA, the Filipino people has nothing against the attacks of bureaucrat capitalists, big bourgeois compradors and landlords all acting under the dictates of imperialist powers. Through the NPA, even the most backward sections of the countryside are transformed into bastions of Red political power. Peasant communities, under the guidance of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) exercise democratic self-governance. The NPA assists them in their endeavors to develop their self-reliant economy, education and technical skills and their capacity to defend their territories.

Failing to squash the NPA itself, the blood-thirsty US – Duterte regime can only scramble to quell the people’s resistance and turn his fangs on the unarmed population. With the implementation of Oplan kapayapaan, militarization of civilian communities in the region escalated. Progressive individuals and organizations are persistently Red-tagged, intimidated and slapped with trumped-up charges. Military and police agents mount ceaseless surveillance against civilian individuals and development institutions. The AFP uses its anti-insurgency campaign as its own money making scheme by coercing civilians to surrender as NPA members.

But these attacks only prove that the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police serve as running dogs of the rich and powerful elite. Moreover, it marks the administration’s desperation to score against an ever-growing and ever-strengthening revolution of the people.

Attacks against the people’s economic situation is yet another crime of the Duterte administration for which he must be held accountable. The enactment of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion has brought nothing but economic burden to the already impoverished Filipino people. Tobacco farmers could barely survive the very exploitative production cycle that is more a source of stress than income. Saddled with even steeper prices of commodities and services due to the most recent tax law, farmers and non-farmers alike experience unprecedented suffering from Duterte’s economic genius and his aim to accumulate the biggest bureaucratic kickback for himself and his family. Workers in the region received a measly 30 pesos increase and still one of the lowest minimum wage in the country.

But political and economic oppression breeds passionate resistance among the people. History itself has proven this when the people overthrew a dictatorship in 1986—ironically a champion of the current tyrant in Malacañang—and once again with the Estrada regime in 2001. Now, almost 20 years later, the time is once again ripe for an upsurge of people power against a local, unapologetic, frothing-in-the-mouth Hitler. Duterte’s ouster is a most probable scenario as more and more forces unite against his despotic rule.

The basic alliance of workers and peasants serve as backbone of all strategic and tactical unities and the revolutionary movement is committed to unite these forces for the expulsion of Duterte from power. More importantly, it pledges to establish alliances and unities for the further advancement of the armed struggle. The NPA can count on other members of NDF – Ilocos to support the armed revolution as only through its triumph will it become possible for the people to grab political power and yield it against the oppressive and exploitative classes. The NDF-Ilocos thus calls on all able-bodied individuals to join the NPA and participate in the just war against the enemies of the people. Under the leadership of the CPP, the NPA and the NDFP are already the most powerful and effective weapons of the people for the attainment of national democratic freedom and the construction of a socialist society.

Long live the 50th Anniversary of the New People’s Army!
Long live the 50th Anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines!
Long live the Filipino People!
VIVA CPP – NPA – NDF!