Members of National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP)-allied organizations held a “lightning rally” in downtown Manila last Sunday for an early celebration of the 57th Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founding anniversary.
Despite heavy police presence in the area due to the holiday season, hundreds marched along Rizal Avenue to urge the Filipino youth to join the revolutionary struggle against “widespread systemic corruption and gross inequality” under the Ferdinand Marcos Jr. regime.
Carrying flags and placards hailing the upcoming CPP anniversary, participants also paid tribute to the late Jose Maria Sison, CPP founding chairperson whose third death anniversary was last Tuesday, December 16.
Joining the protests were members of the Kabataang Makabayan, Artista at Manunulat ng Sambayanan, Revolutionary Council of Trade Unions, the Makabayang Kawaning Pilipino, and Compatriots.
Founded in December 26, 1968, the CPP is an underground revolutionary organization that wages armed struggle against a “semi-colonial and semi-feudal” society and to establish a national democratic government.
The Manila lightning rally followed NDFP participation at the University of the Philippines’ Lantern Parade last Wednesday in Quezon City.
NDFP members also held metro-wide graffiti art painting activities as part of CPP anniversary celebrations.
CPP Chief Information Officer Marco Valbuena said the events are “clear signs of revitalized revolutionary activity, not only in the national capital, but across the country.”
He added that these are the “indubitable positive result” of the CPP’s ongoing third rectification campaign launched in December 2023.
“These activities by the revolutionary underground help galvanize the people to advance the people’s war, which has become even more urgent as the broad masses seek a solution to the crisis of the corrupt and fascist regime,” Valbuena added.
Earlier this year, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) again vowed to finally crush the CPP-led armed struggle by year’s end due to decreasing membership and elimination of the last New People’s Army (NPA) units.
Both Manila and the CPP however announced a series of clashes across the country this month, including an armed encounter in Balatan, Camarines Sur last Friday that reportedly resulted in the death of a Philippine Army officer and a non-commissioned soldier.
“The Party commends Red fighters of the New People’s Army for its quick reaction and counter-maneuver against assaulting troops of the 9th IB (Infantry Battalion),” Valbuena said in another statement. # (Raymund B.Villanueva)
