Today, we commemorate the first death anniversary of National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) peace consultant Ka Ericson Acosta. A year ago, he and peasant leader Joseph Jimenez were summarily executed while unarmed and totally defensely by treacherous snakes of the 94th and 47th Infantry Battalions at Sitio Makilo, Barangay Camansi, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental.

Coincidentally, Ka Ericson was murdered on Bonifacio day. Like Gat Andres, he was murdered by mercenary lapdogs of the reactionary state who were fearful of the change he sought and fought for.

Ka Ericson was one of the NDFP peace consultants who worked on the Comprehensive Agreement on Social and Economic Reforms (CASER). The CASER is the heart and soul of the peace talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and NDFP. The NDFP’s CASER draft seeks to end the rotten semicolonial and semifeudal system dominated by big compradors and big landlords and the imperialist domination of Philippine economy, and to break land monopoly in the countryside by carrying out free land distribution to tillers.

The CASER is very significant for the Negrosanon masses who have been chained to slave-like conditions in sugarcane haciendas for more than a century. They continue to endure an oppressive and exploitative system and aspire for just and lasting peace that is based on social justice. As a seething social volcano, it is of no surprise that the current civil war in the country has deep roots in Negros Island; no wonder that Ka Ericson Acosta chose to come here and was killed violently by the fascist military.

It is an opportune moment that the Oslo Joint Statement and Communiqué was released two days ago. The first anniversary of the martyrdom of Ka Ericson Acosta is a reminder of the immense importance of addressing the roots of the armed conflict, more so amid imposition of neoliberal policies, bureaucratic corruption, subservience to US imperialism, worsening human rights violations, and heightening state terrorism on the island and the entire country under the US-Marcos II regime.

In commemoration of Ka Ericson’s and Joseph Jimenez’ death anniversary and Bonifacio day, as well, NDF-Negros calls on all revolutionary forces on the island to continue all efforts in gaining revolutionary strength to contribute in pushing the GRP into tackling the objective realities of the toiling masses of workers and peasants. Armed struggle continues to be not only the hope, but the solution to the masses’ woes in this moribund society.

The anti-imperialist, anti-feudal and anti-fascist mass movement must grow and expand. All revolutionary organizations must propagate the NDFP’s CASER draft and launch discussion groups on agrarian reform and national industrialization as key points to addressing the roots of armed conflict. It is important that these discussions reach the homes of the workers and peasants who will benefit most from it.

At present, sustained and focused military operations are relentless in Negros’ countryside. Negrosanons, inspired by Ka Ericson Acosta and all revolutionary heroes and martyrs, will continue waging the national democratic revolution through protracted people’s war and march towards a society of just and lasting peace.###