OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF KABATAANG MAKABAYAN SEPTEMBER 2020

EDITORIAL FIGHT DUTERTE’S NEW MARTIAL LAW!

It is through militant resolve and the masses’ OUST THE DICTATORSHIP! yearning for democracy and justice that they were have done nothing but pass the entire nation, Duterte was able to kill, able to gallantly face the state’s intensified more neoliberal policies that torture, intimidate, terrorize, and do harassment and intimidation tactics, as people have only pushed the people damage as much as, if not way more than, from all over the country flock the streets to into unparalleled poverty. Marcos did. remember the declaration of Marcos’ martial law Ever since the early stages of Even under a lockdown due to Covid- 48 years ago today. Duterte’s reign, he 19, the Duterte regime did not miss a beat In the guise of a Covid-19 response, has done nothing but fill his pockets and in trying to turn the country into a military Duterte exploited the pandemic and the those of his cohorts’. From his TRAIN law state. From beefed up police and military worsening condition of the Filipino which sucked the masses’ pockets dry presence all over the country to social people through total state abandonment and left their tables emptier than before, media surveillance and monitoring and escalated fascism. He used the crisis his EO 51 and DO 174 that legitimized against the youth, Duterte has appointed to further attacks against the people and contractualization despite growing himself and his blood-thirsty goons as the strengthen his dictatorial rule. clamor from workers, to the Rice kings of the land. Now through the Anti- ’s tactics are no Tariffication Law (RTL) that only Terror Act, these fascist men in uniform different than Marcos’ before. The people promised drastic losses and greater can only get more pompous — an omen remember how Marcos boasted of a struggle for Filipino farmers, Duterte has for more human rights abuses and state “stellar” fiscal performance with a proved to be as Marcosian as he could terrorism in full swing. competitive peso rate and global get. Even at the early stage of the ATA, economic influence, while caging in and Now, Duterte is stepping up his game Duterte’s mercenaries were never once veiling urban poor communities to hide by playing exactly as Marcos did — use timid about revealing the true purpose of the ever-exacerbating economic status of absurd infrastructure or rehabilitation the new law. In a span of one week, two the Filipino people. His cronies continue projects, like that of Manila Bay, in the beloved activists were tortured and killed. to gloat about the beautiful infrastructure hopes of distracting the people from Ka Randy Echanis was a 72-year old that the days of the martial law left the demanding accountability for the peace consultant who devoted his life to country with, but never fail to neglect corruption, neglect, and fascism. No fighting for the democratic interests of mentioning how big of a debt the masses doubt, Duterte is swimming in the billions peasants; Zara Alvarez was a dedicated are burdened with now because of it. he and his allies have stolen in kickbacks. human rights activist and community In a disturbingly similar way, Duterte’s An even more splitting image of the health worker. And they are just two administration continues to stress how martial law of the past is the killings and among many in the growing list of victims laudable the economic trajectory state terrorism of today. of this murderous regime. Has been since Duterte Even without an outright (“Fight Duterte’s...” Continued on page 2) took over but declaration of martial law in SEPTEMBER 2020 · PAGE 2 (“Fight Duterte’s...” from page 1) The crisis the pandemic brought forth dictatorship. In the face of a new martial Meanwhile in the countryside, farmers worldwide is unseen in recent history, law under Duterte’s dictatorship, the and the national minority are growing moving people from all over the globe to youth must again courageously take its ever more restless with relentless resist strengthening fascist and neoliberal place in history and strive for national militarization, bombing, forced attacks from their government. democracy. surrenders, psychological warfare, and International solidarity is stronger than The streets and the countryside await bloody and destructive counterinsurgency ever due to the shared struggle that is the youth and masses. Advance the operations. being felt not only in semi-colonial and people’s war to attain true justice and The pictures of poverty, corruption, semi-feudal third-world nations but also democracy! Oust the dictatorship, resist fascism, and state terrorism that the immensely by the working class the fascist! people see today are all too familiar. population in imperialist countries. These are the same scenes from the dark No time will be as ripe as now. Amid days of martial law that have painted the global crisis, the Duterte themselves as tableau’s in the nation’s administration has proven that no collective memory. response or solution can be expected of Yet, with the intensifying state them. The masses have become immune terrorism and dictatorship comes also the to their lies and promises. No alleviation burgeoning struggle and resistance of the of the crisis will be felt so long as Duterte people. The masses’ unrest has reached remains in power. The precedent for boiling point and agitation is at an all-time ouster is unparalleled. high with different sectors eagerly joining Kabataang Makabayan calls on all in the growing call for Duterte’s ouster. democratic and patriotic youth to The youth’s militancy matches that which continue to persevere in revolutionary was demonstrated during the First rage and agitation. The youth, alongside Quarter Storm that paved the way for the the basic masses, had been in the ouster of the Marcos dictatorship. forefront of the fight against the Marcos ON TERRORIZING THE Contents YOUTH’S DIGITAL SPACE Editorial Fight Duterte’s new martial law! Oust 1 the dictatorship! Kabataang Makabayan calls on all patriotic youth to resist the PNP’s renewed On terrorizing the youth’s digital space 2 attempts at curtailing the masses’ democracy and freedom of speech through social media surveillance, and predictably, psywar. Highest revolutionary salutes to 2

masses’ beloved Ka Fidel

Under the pretense of enforcing either by being gunned down by state Feature quarantine regulations, the PNP forces, or by succumbing to hunger and A Covid-19 prognosis of the Filipino 3 jeepney announced that it will be monitoring poverty—by forcing the lot of them to activity on social media sites like embrace the digital space as its only Frustrate Duterte’s rabid attempts to 4

seal his dictatorship! Resist the fascist! Facebook and Twitter to spot potential reality. Literary violators. It is peak irony for the PNP to Still, despite the government’s vain Siyang Walang Pangalan 5 claim that social media monitoring will efforts, the militant and patriotic youth merely be their tool to penalize caught refused to be bullied by fascist lapdogs. lockdown offenders when it is through Instead, they decisively faced the threat of Highest revolutionary salutes social media that high-ranking fascists state backlash and integrated with the to masses’ beloved Ka Fidel like chief and masses and organized even more of the Ka Fidel’s life in the revolution is an PNP chief were exposed youth and students. exemplary of the life all revolutionary and breaking their own rules but managed to Now, with amplifying demands for the patriotic youth strive to live. get away scott-free through outright Duterte administration’s accountability The recent passing of Ka Fidel Agcaoili denial and power play. for the crisis the country is experiencing, of the National Democratic Front of the Indubitably, this is but another and defeaning clamor from the youth and (NDFP) brings grief to all desperate measure to try to control the masses, Duterte’s paid goons are moving Filipino revolutionaries. youth and masses as it grows ever more to the digital space to try to crack down But at the same time, we remember restless with the negligence and apathy on the growing number of government (“Highest revolutionary...” continued on page 4) the Duterte administration is brazenly dissenters and critics. exhibiting. It is without a doubt that the PNP will This comes not long after a series of use this new “project” to hand-pick more attacks on youth and mass leaders all over youth leaders to harass and red-tag, while the country — raging from blatant and attempting to scare or threaten the rest. ceaseless red-tagging accusations by In the face of intensifying attacks by an government and military officials, to ever-decaying regime, Kabataang actual threats and murders of activists Makabayan stands with all patriotic youth. and human rights workers. The youth must now, more than ever, Since the start of the pandemic, the resolutely oppose Duterte’s tyrant tricks Duterte regime has tried desperately to and expose its utter uselessness and isolate the youth and students from the gross criminality! wider masses who are dying everyday— SEPTEMBER 2020 · PAGE 3

FEATURE: Duterte is using Covid-19 as a smokescreen to pursue his anti-poor jeepney phaseout.

Since the beginning of the pandemic and regulations outlining that only 6,002 comprador cohorts. Billions more have been the subsequent country-wide lockdown, traditional jeepneys would be allowed to squandered in foreign debt while the Filipino Duterte, in his late-night ramblings, has travel — leaving a startling 67,998 or 92% people are only falling deeper into poverty declared and threatened “war” on more of drivers and operators still jobless. But, and adversity during this crisis. than a couple of things. He called “war” what’s the catch? Alongside the 6,002 Undoubtedly, the Duterte administration against the virus (to which there has been traditional units, e-jeepneys will be allowed is steadfast in its aim to railroad the jeepney no visible improvement even 5 months in) to resume their routes as usual — the same phaseout because of the immense profits it and he also threatened a bigger “war” on e-jeepneys that were first rolled out as part will bring for Duterte’s foreign investors. communists following his cheap attempts of Duterte’s jeepney phaseout scheme. While Duterte and his allies are swimming in at blaming the CPP-NPA for the And so it is once again revealed what the the billions made from e-jeepney purchases, government’s failures to efficiently Duterte administration’s true inhumane thousands of jeepney drivers and their distribute aid in the countryside and handle intent really is — to use the pandemic to families will be left with nothing. the Covid-19 crisis. conduct a blanket implementation of the In the end, Duterte’s goal is clear: take But more than these highly- PUV Modernization Program that promises advantage of the crisis brought forth by the sensationalized (but never really successful) to rid hundreds of thousands of jeepney pandemic to engage in a sweeping war mutterings of the Malacañang alpha fascist, drivers and small operators of their only against the people — the progressive a more sinister war has been going on in source of income. students and professionals, the militant the sidelines. If before the pandemic, jeepney drivers urban poor, the agitated peasants, the critical The first day of the enhanced community and small operators scratched their heads scholars and academics, the dissenting quarantine in marks the day the when told that they would need to pay media practitioners, and the hungry working streets in the island came to a standstill. Php2.4 million for a “modernized” jeepney class . People lined up for hours in unit if they wanted to continue working, But, Duterte couldn’t have picked a worse

groceries, roads were emptied, vehicles now, in the middle of a crisis, they are time to attack the masses. For right now, the were garaged, small stores were closed, furious. people’s resolve is clearer: the only thing classes were suspended, the masses All around the NCR, jeepney drivers and that’s left to do is resist and topple the stopped working. Amid all the chaos, operators are organizing to demand the regime that leaves its people for dead in jeepney drivers and operators were one of lifting of travel suspensions for the exchange for deeper pockets and political the first groups forced out of their traditional jeepney. According to them, they power. livelihood. are no longer waiting for the government’s What the Filipino masses need and Naturally, their transition to a aid, certain that none will arrive. What they deserve is national industrialization that will “temporary” jobless life was difficult need, and what the majority working pave the way for a better transportation enough. Even harder to bear for these population of the country needs, is a secure system — for drivers and the riding public industrious drivers was the thought of not return to their work — one that is free from alike. Not only will this put forward the being able to provide for their families. But neoliberal aggression and the attacks of big democratic interests of the people over that the government said, “this is temporary! bourgeois comprador criminals. of foreign capitalists’, it will also answer the We will go back to work!” And so, that was The Covid-19 crisis has revealed the problem of instability of wage and income that. After all, with no public rushing to get system’s rotten core. What started out as a for our country’s semi-proletariat whose from point A to point B, there really public health problem highlighted every jobs are currently always at the mercy of wouldn’t be any passengers at all, right? other issue inherent in our semi-colonial, foreign capitalists. Only through the national And so two months passed before the semi-feudal society — a society battered by democratic revolution can the masses claim strict lockdown rules were eventually the ever-intensifying and worsening effects this victory. watered down. And alas! — this time, the of neoliberalism, even amid a pandemic. The jeepney drivers and operators, government said, “public transportation In spite of the government’s alleged lack alongside the youth and other sectors of the can resume.” — something the of funds for cash aid, mass testing, and basic masses, will write history as they once jeepneydrivers and operators have been personal protective equipment for health again join arms to oust the dictator and be waiting for! “But,” the apathetic fools workers, profits of the foreign monopoly one step closer to the people’s triumph in continued, “jeepneys, UV expresses, and capitalists are constantly being prioritized. the national democratic revolution. This war buses are not allowed.” Duterte’s Bayanihan Acts 1 and 2 have only that Duterte is waging can only backfire. Immediately, the Duterte’s Inter-agency ascertained his control on how to distribute And when it does, it will ricochet with the Task Force (IATF) released its transportation wealth and gains among his bourgeois strength of the united toiling masses. SEPTEMBER 2020 · PAGE 4 information. Since its formation, this task Frustrate Duterte’s rabid attempts force which is directly under the Office of the President has done nothing but to seal his dictatorship! harass, persecute, and terrorize civilians and militant leaders and groups to The Duterte administration’s sensationalized commemoration of the dictator intimidate and threaten those who dare Ferdinand Marcos’ birthday today is a denial of the atrocities of his fascist rule and speak up against the regime. No sooner a betrayal of the struggle of the Filipino people then and now. To celebrate and was it clear that the NTF-ELCAC is but a memorialize this day is to attack the masses’ efforts to topple the murderous cash pool for Duterte and his allies that tyrant—it is an outright disrespect and dismissal of the suffering and pain this day (“Frustrate Duterte’s...” continued on page 5) means for the victims of Martial Law.

It is just like Rodrigo Duterte to pull this brought about by the economic fallout kind of foolish and callous antic as the from the pandemic isn’t good enough for country grapples with the worsening him, Duterte is urgently seeking more crisis due to Covid-19. It shows not only and more ways to wage his deadly war how much of a blood-thirsty dictator he is against the people and fasten his too, but also how desperate he and his dictatorial rule. cronies are to distract the masses from Even greater amounts have been and veil the countless failures and squandered by this regime in the way of misdeeds of this administration in corruption. From the PhilHealth handling the pandemic. controversy, to the PCOO or Presidential (“Highest revolutionary...” from page 2) Indeed, since the start of the lockdown, Communications Operations Office and him not only as the NDFP negotiating Duterte never paid heed to the issues that the National Task Force to End Local panel chairperson we knew him as needed tackling. Instead, he channeled all Communist Armed Conflict (NTF- today—more than that, Ka Fidel was a his government’s efforts and money into ELCAC), no amount of being exposed student, an organizer, a militant, and a comrade. funding war, militarization, and state pushed Duterte and his moneygrubbing Ka Fidel was one of the founding terrorism in whole. cohorts to shy away from their criminal members of the Kabataang Makabayan While the Filipino people are down in activities. (KM). Like the scores of patriotic youth the sewers in trying to make ends meet, we know as KM today, Ka Fidel was a Rodrigo Duterte is on a blithe shopping student when he was first drawn to the binge for new weapons to further excite struggle of the masses. From there, he his absurd yet vicious counterinsurgency grew, alongside his comrades, to better and deepen and his theory and practice and all-out war. of waging the people’s national On May 12, the government spent democratic revolution. His family’s ₱2.4 billion on artillery systems from an opposition to his activism did not stop Israeli company (Elbit Systems). This him from integrating with the masses comes after the April 30 approval of the and organizing. He devoted all the purchase of ₱75-billion worth of privileges he had and the skills he helicopters, missiles, and other war developed to further the movement. Marcos’ rule did not scare Ka Fidel equipment. It took a public health crisis to totally from the fight. He faced the dangers of expose the utter rottenness of the state’s resisting the dictatorship head-on and peddled healthcare system. The found himself in prison. Yet, neither an PhilHealth corruption issue revealed unimaginable amount of torture nor billions being pocketed by government over a decade of imprisonment pushed officials in fake surgeries and operations, him to turn his back on the people’s revolution. On the contrary, he on top of a hefty sum being dissipated by decisively returned to the struggle and unnecessary travel, accommodation, and he waged bigger fights for the masses leisure activities by PhilHealth since. The ₱75-billion package stakeholders. But, Duterte does not seem Today, as we face intensified state includes AGM-114 Hellfire II missiles keen on demanding accountability from terrorism and attacks not unlike those costing ₱5.08 million apiece. Duterte’s the officials involved. Instead, he carries experienced by the militants from administration, looking to secure 200 on defending Health Secretary and Marcos’ time, we look at Ka Fidel’s life with renewed strength and payloads, would thus have to conjure up PhilHealth ex-officio chairman Francisco determination. Ka Fidel’s sacrifices for ₱1.02 billion — enough to purchase Duque III while the government’s Covid- the movement is one with the sacrifices around 408,000 sacks of rice and feed 19 response remains a phantom to the of all Filipino revolutionaries —then, approximately 1.09 million people for an masses. now, and those to come. entire month. On the other hand, the NTF-ELCAC, in Highest revolutionary salutes to the To add salt to the masses’ wound, and conjunction with the PCOO or Palace masses’ beloved Ka Fidel! contrary to statements made by NCRPO communications team, has done nothing chief Debold Sinas, Duterte’s bloody war but falsely quote youth leaders and Long live the on drugs did not stop even during the accuse them of being members of the pandemic. 53 drug-related killings were CPP-NPA-NDF, thus making civilians people’s recorded between March 15 to May 5, and targets for overzealous fascist state 42 of those murders were confirmed to forces and putting their lives at risk. national have been carried out by the PNP, It was under Duterte’s EO 70 that this occasionally alongside the AFP and task force was launched in what turned democratic PDEA. out to be a spree of red-tagging, As if the worsening hunger and poverty harassment, and spreading of false revolution! (“Frustrate Duterte’s…” from page 4) arrests of up to 100 civilians in rural areas, also conveniently legitimizes war crimes and at least 625 barangays in 54 and human rights violations. provinces suffered attacks from the Just this year, ₱622.3 billion has been military ranging from community allotted for the operations of the NTF- militarization to unrestrained aerial ELCAC—an astounding amount of bombing. money just for spreading fake news The second half of the year brought an online and cultivating social media troll onslaught of intensified attacks against farms. the national minority from all over the Yet, notwithstanding the pandemic entire country—mass destruction of and the continuous and growing clamor schools, murder of a tribe leader in from the Filipino people, the Duterte Southern , massacre of nine regime is proposing a 2,969% budget Moro peasants, and the brutal torture and increase for the violation NTF-ELCAC of the rights of Siyang Walang —from Aeta communities ₱622.3 in Zambales. Pangalan million in Now, no matter RESIST (Isang handog sa mga bayani ng masa) 2020 to ₱19.1 how good these billion next year. fascist hounds Ngalan niya’y lumisan, Also part of the are atlying Siyang pinili ang mamamayan budget THE through Bagama’t walang tahanan, request their teeth, of the there is no Masa ang kanyang kanlungan Office way one can of the PresidentFASCIST is ₱2.25 billion each for Ngalan niya’y lumaban, spin the narrative to erase the facts. unfathomable, inexplicable “confidential Duterte’s sadistic game of terrorizing the Siyang armas ang tinanganan expenses” and “intelligence expenses”. masses in the countryside is a hopeless Sa gitna ng takot at kahirapan, This is on top of “billions of pesos” in attempt to flush out the revolutionary Paninindigan niya ang sandigan remittances it receives annually from the forces and damage their convictions. Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office What Duterte and his lapdogs fail to Ngalan niya’y rebolusyonaryo, (PCSO) and the Philippine Amusement understand—as did the many dictators Siyang humarap sa bangis ng estado and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR). An and fascists before them—is that they Hindi alintana ang panahon at peligro, infuriating manifestation of unabashed cannot force the masses and Tagumpay ang kanyang pangako corruption in the face of a global crisis revolutionary forces to cower at them that’s leaving the country in shambles. through their brutal tactics. Ngalan niya’y martir, Meanwhile, expecting aid beneficiaries In the same manner Duterte and his Siyang nakibaka at nasawi were forced to make do with what little trigger-happy gofers relentlessly kidnap, Buong-lakas na inalay ang sarili, food they have left as they waited for torture, murder, and violate the masses, Lumaban sa mga mapang-api government help that never came. Mass the masses will strike back with the testing still costs thousands to avail—an determination and strength of a united Sila ang mga walang pangalan— amount alien to the working class toiling people yearning for national

Filipinos who merely want to get a ticket democracy and freedom from the chains Ngalan nila’y bayani, back to their minimum wage jobs. that imperialism, feudalism, and Silang hinubog ng tunggalian ng uri Duterte preoccupies the entire nation bureaucrat-capitalism have put on them Ang kanilang diwang di magagapi, weekly with his useless jabber—spewing for as long as history remembers. Gagabay sa magpapatuloy sa gabi lie after lie about revolutionary Every drop of blood that’s spilled from organizations and confounding the their bullets; every land and home that’s —Pangalan nila’y di malilimutan. people with his ill-planned adjustments decimated by their bombs; every child regarding quarantine conditions that’s traumatized by the overkill cannons everywhere. they shell; and every life that’s destroyed Tandaan na ibayong All the while, his military let loose their by their inhumane psychological warfare lumalaban at hindi barbarous tactics in the countryside. —these all just lead to another Just during the first half of the warm body decisively joining natatakot ang KM sa year, 30% of recorded political the New People’s Army harap ng tumitinding Killings and torture were to fight to restore committed against farmers in the dignities karahasan ng kaaway. different regions, as well as and rights they Lalu pang lumalakas 63% of illegal arrest and were deprived Detention cases. There of so long ang KM at masang Have been mass ago. anakpawis sa pamamagitan ng pakikibaka. Mula sa “Mensahe sa Kabataang Makabayan sa panahon ng Covid-19” ni Jose Maria Sison