The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) has accused the Marcos administration of intensifying efforts to suppress dissent among the youth, warning that corruption, injustice, and abuses by state forces are driving a new generation of Filipinos toward revolutionary movements.
“Corruption, injustice, and abuses by those in power are the very conditions that compel the Filipino youth to question the rotten ruling system and seek radical and revolutionary ways to end them,” CPP declared in a statement.
The CPP charged that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac), and government-aligned social media operators have been mobilized to drown out dissenting voices online.
“This blatant assault against the youth is part of Marcos’ arsenal of fascist tactics to maintain his grip on power,” the group said.
Mindoro Incidents in Focus
The CPP pointed to recent military operations in Abra de Ilog, Mindoro Occidental, where 22-year-old student researcher Jerlyn Rose Doydora reportedly died on January 1 amid aerial bombings and strafing by the AFP.
Another youth, 24-year-old Fil-Am activist Chantal Anicoche, was allegedly detained for a week before being surfaced following public outcry. CPP also claimed that three Mangyan children were killed in the same operations.
The CPP accused the military of imposing an “information blackout” in the area and staging rallies to obstruct independent investigations. “These are just the latest grave abuses committed by Marcos’ armed forces,” the statement read.
Rising Youth Activism
The CPP said recent months have seen thousands of students walking out of campuses to protest corruption scandals.
It argued that young Filipinos are increasingly critical of government policies that keep wages low, displace transport workers, and perpetuate landlessness among peasants.
“Millions are denied their right to education, while those who make it to universities face bleak prospects of decent employment,” the CPP noted.
Intellectuals Drawn to ‘Revolutionary’ Ideas
The CPP emphasized that not a few academics, researchers, journalists, students, scientists, and even lower-level government officials have visited New People’s Army (NPA) units to gain a deeper understanding of revolutionary perspectives.
“Many continue to be drawn to the path of resistance not because of deception or manipulation, but because the revolutionary ideas promoted by the CPP and NPA reflect the people’s desire for national freedom and democracy,” the group said.
According to the CPP, many young Filipinos see revolution as the only path toward a free and prosperous future, committing themselves to endure hardship and sacrifice along this difficult road.
Marcos Jr. as ‘Negative Recruiter’
The CPP asserted that more and more people view Marcos, along with the AFP, PNP, NTF-Elcac, and other alleged repressive” agencies, as the embodiment of corruption, injustice, abuse, and subservience to foreign powers.
“By negative example, Marcos has virtually become the number one recruiter of the New People’s Army,” the statement said.
In its closing message, the CPP urged Filipino youth to sharpen their scientific minds and resist attempts to stifle critical thinking.
“Deepen your understanding of the country’s history and the current concrete conditions of the broad masses under a semicolonial and semifeudal system. Study and learn from the masses, and determine for yourself the profound necessity of waging the people’s democratic revolution,” the group said. (RRN)
