Matapos pumatay ng mga maralita, mga manggagawa at magsasaka, mga unyonista at aktibista, at maging ang pambansang soberanya ng Pilipinas, hindi pa yata nakuntento sa libu-libong pamamaslang ang berdugong rehimen ni Rodrigo Duterte. Gusto na rin nitong tokhangin ang pag-aaral ng wika at panitikan sa bansa. Ang lakas ng loob ni Duterte na magposturang makabayan habang nagpapakatuta sa interes ng Tsina at Estados Unidos, at habang pumapatay ng sarili nitong mamayan, wika, at panitikan. Tahol nang tahol ang nauulol na tuta sa Palasyo.

Taliwas sa pangangatwiran ng CHED at DepEd na hindi na kailangan ang mga asignaturang Filipino at Panitikan sa kolehiyo dahil pinagdaanan na ito ng mga senior high school sa ilalim ng K-12 program, malaki ang pinsalang maidudulot ng CHED Memorandum Order (CMO) 20 sa diwang makabayan ng mga kabataan.

Sinasagasaan nito ang mga disiplinang mahalaga sa paglilinang ng ating kultura’t kasaysayan; katulad na lamang ng sining, humanidades. Pinagkakait nito sa susunod pang salinlahi ang malalim na pagtanaw at kaalaman sa pagiging makabayan at pagiging makatao.

Mahalagang tignan ang CMO 20 bilang isa sa mga sintomas ng nabubulok na mala-kolonyal na lipunan. Ang “colonial mentality” — at ang primarya nitong manipestasyon sa ating pinipiling wika at ang kaugnayan nito sa ating ideya ng uri, ay kaugnay sa kung ano ang ginagamit sa pagtuturo sa paaralan at pamantasan. Dito pa lamang ay makikita na ang kolonyal na katangian ng sistema ng edukasyon sa bansa: nagsisilbi sa mga dayuhan at daluyan ng mga ideyang kolonyal. Ayon kay Renato Constantino sa kanyang akdang The Miseducation of the Filipino, tayo ay hinuhubog na ng ating nakagisnang edukasyon na mag-isip at kumilos na parang mga maliliit na Amerikano. Makikita ito sa ating pagmamaliit sa pag-aaral ng ating mga wika sa usapin ng balarila, sa usapin ng tamang pagbabaybay at paggamit ng “ng” at “nang”.

Tila nakakalimutan nating ang wika at panitikan ay daluyan ng mga ideya, kultura, kuwento, at kasaysayan ng ating bansa. Ang pagtanggal sa mas malalim na pag-aaral sa wika at panitikan — sa mga teksto at konteksto, sa mga materyal na kundisyong humulma sa kanila — ay nangangahulugang pagtanggal sa kakayahan ng mga Pilipinong magpalalim ng kanilang pag-unawa at pagpapakatao. Pinapanatili nito tayong mga mangmang, sunud-sunuran, at alipin sa sarili nating bayan.

Ito naman talaga ang gustong gawin ng kasalukuyang sistema ng edukasyon at ng mga nasa kapangyarihan sa ating bayan. Sa ganitong gana ay hindi maikakaila ang programang K-12 bilang isang patakaran na lalong naglalayo sa mga kabataang Pilipino sa kritikal na pagsusuri sa kiris sa lipunan. Kaugnay ng CMO20, ito ay isang neoliberal na opensiba ng mga dayuhan upang lumikha ng mga kabataang sunud-sunuran at alipin para sa dayuhang kapital.

Walang halaga ang pag-aaral ng wika, panitikan, humanidades, sining, at kasaysayan sa isang sistema ng edukasyon na ang habol lamang ay kumita at gawing marahas na assembly line ang mga kabataan. Sa ngalan ng pekeng “globalisasyon” ay pilit nito tayong ginagawang kimi at walang kalaban-laban sa dayuhang pananamantala.

Sa sanaysay na Poetry and the Liberal Arts in the Age of Globalization, isinasalaysay ni Oscar Campomanes ang sagot ng makatang si Cirilo Bautista sa tanong na: “Does Poetry have a future in the Philippines?”

Tugon ng makata: “No, Poetry is on the way out. It has no use or served its purpose in our fast-changing times.”

Wala nang silbi ang panitikan at kasaysayan sa isang mundong sinasamba ang kapital. Hindi ito madalang makomodipika at mapagkakitaan, at limitado lamang ang mga trabahong kayang pasukin ng mga tulad kong mag-aaral ng panitikan — na mas lalo pang magiging limitado dahil marami nang kolehiyo at pamantasan ang nagtanggal at nagsara ng mga pinto sa mga guro ng Filipino at panitikan.

Ang nilalahad sa atin ng ating mga wika at panitikan ay isang kasaysayan ng pakikibaka at paglaban. Ang mga salita ay siya ring sandata natin laban sa mga manlulupig. Sa pagiging mangmang sa ating sariling wika at panitikan, tayo ay nagiging mga punong walang ugat, lumulutang-lutang lamang at sumusunod sa ihip ng hangin. Hindi tayo aasa sa ating sistema ng edukasyon, wala sa neoliberal na akademya ang tahanan ng wika at panitikan: ang tunay na tahanan ng ating wika, panitikan, sining, at kasaysayan ay nasa ating pakikibaka at pagkilos para sa isang makabayan, siyentipiko, at makamasang edukasyon na atin lamang makakamit sa pagpapabagsak sa imperyalismo. Hindi tayo pasisiil.

Isang maalab at mapagpalayang pagbati para sa lahat ng kabataang nagsipagtapos ngayong taon!

Hindi madali ang makapagtapos, ngunit maswerte pa tayong nagsipagtapos dahil mahirap ang mag-aral sa panahong nagiging pribilehiyo na ang dapat sana’y ating karapatan. Ang pagtatapos natin sa kolehiyo ay hudyat na tayo’y handa nang magtrabaho, handa na tayong mag-banat ng buto para mag-abot ng tulong pinansyal sa ating pamilya. Ngunit ito ba talaga ang landasin nating mga kabataan? Sa panahong kumakalam ang sikmura ng ating mga pamilya, hinahamon ang bawat isa sa ating tumulong upang mapunan ang tiyan ng mahal natin sa buhay ngunit mas higit sa lahat ay kailangan tayo ng sambayanang umaasa sa ating lakas at kakayahan para sa pagbabagong lipunan.

Nitong nakaraang taon, nasaksihan ng mamamayang pilipino ang ‘di matawarang lakas at impluwensya ng kabataan para itaguyod ang pagbabagong panlipunan. Mula sa pagkilos sa SONA noong 2018, sa pakikiisa sa laban ng mga manggagawa tulad ng NutriAsia, pagmartsa ng nagkakaisang kabataan laban sa historical revisionism noong September 21, sa patuloy na pagkundena sa pamamaslang dahil sa Gyera Kontra Droga, laban para sa karapatan ng kababaihan at LGBT+, at nitong nakaraang eleksyon kung saan maliwanag pa sa sikat ng araw ang pagpili ng kabataan sa mga pulitikong prinsipyado, lumalaban, at alam ang kalagayan ng mamamayan.

Sa tatlong taong panunungkulan ng kasalukuyang administrasyon, hindi biro ang dinanas ng mga kabataan sa ilalim ng rehimen ni Rodrigo Duterte. Nakita ito sa mga iba’t-ibang porma ng pag-atake para pahinain at pilayan ang mga kabataan at estudyante. Habang nagpapakasarap sa pwesto si Duterte, patuloy naman ang paghihirap at pagpapatay sa mga kabataan. Habang patuloy na tumataas ang matrikula, tumataas din ang presyo ng mga bilihin. Kitang kita rin ang kakulungan sa badyet upang makapagbigay ng de kalidad na pasilidad sa mga paaralan. Kamakailan lamang, tinanggal ang asignaturang Panitikan at Filipino sa kolehiyo at ipapanumbalik ang Mandatory ROTC sa Senior High School. At sa lahat ng mga problemang hinarap at patuloy na hinaharap ng mga kabataan at estudyante, walang ginawang polisiya si Rodrigo Duterte upang iangat ang kanilang mga kabuhayan.

Sa kabila ng mga pag-atake at pambubusabos sa ating mga kabataan, patuloy ang hamon sa atin na ipaglaban ang wasto at karapat-dapat. Gamitin natin ang ating mga talento at kaalaman upang baguhin ang lipunan. Tungkulin nating pangalagaan ang kinabukasan ng bayan bilang tayo ang mga pag-asa ng bayan. Ang unang hakbang para dito ay alamin ang isyu ng hinaharap ng mamamayang Pilipino sa pamamagitan ng pakikisalamuha at pakikiisa sa kanila. Tama si Jules sa Dekada ’70 nang sinabi niyang tayo ay anak ng bayan bago ng ating mga magulang dahil hindi hiwalay ang problemang kinakaharap ng ating mga magulang sa suliraning kinakaharap ng bawat ordinaryong Pilipino.

Mabuhay kayong mga kabataang nagsipagtapos! Pinakamataas na pagpupugay ang aming pinapaabot. Maraming salamat! Paglingkuran ang sambayanan, mga anak ng bayan! ###

The biggest irony of all — On June 12, 2019 Independence day, a Chinese vessel rammed a Filipino fishing vessel leaving 22 of our fishermen helplessly floating on for their dear life on the Recto Bank, located on the West Philippine Sea. Accounts from the Filipino fisherfolk proved the Chinese on board witnessed their ship sink and even beamed their lights towards them. Instead of helping, the Chinese vessel turned off its lights and continued to move away, deliberately disregarding the Filipino fishermen’s safety.

Even with the Filipino fishermen’s battle cry to keep their traditional fishing grounds exclusive from foreign intervention, the Recto Bank has been an easy target for foreign vessels since 2014. Recto Bank is 85 nautical miles from Palawan and is within the country’s 200-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ). In 2016, the UN-backed Permanent Court of Arbitration based in The Hague had granted the Philippines its sovereign rights over Recto Bank as well as Panganiban (Mischief) Reef off Palawan and Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal. The Chinese on board the vessel had violated their obligation under the United Nations Convention on the Laws of the Seas (UNCLOS) to rescue those distressed at sea. According to Article 98 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), every state is required to render assistance to any person in distress or in danger of being lost at sea.

But Rodrigo Duterte’s cowardice has outweighed these legal matters. He has remained stubborn and insisted that any further action against China would result to “World War III”. Presenting a clear proof of his blind obedience to Xi Jin Ping’s dictates, Duterte has been acting meticulous in defending his own people. His play-safe arrogance despite the raging incident that has endangered us has further cemented his self-serving duty to abide by China. He is a coward who is of no use to our fight for genuine freedom and sovereignty.

The victories garnered in the name of fighting for our territorial integrity have come a long way and yet, Duterte and his cohorts have continued to downplay this longtime struggle of our Filipino fishermen through mere tokenistic mechanisms such as bribing them with cheap motorboats, financial aid and other supplies. These are useless when he could not even hold China accountable. Duterte is a fake defender of sovereignty. His lip-service has gotten him nowhere as massive indignation from various sectors has intensified. No amount of lukewarm statements from Duterte and his cabinet officials could downplay the serious territorial dispute we have with China.

The government has gone all-out in abandoning its own people. Duterte’s play-safe arrogance despite the raging incident that has endangered us has further cemented his self-serving duty to abide by China. He is a coward who is of no use to our fight for genuine freedom and sovereignty.

With all these struggles the country’s facing, the Filipino youth must remain resolute in the anti-imperialist struggle. We should mobilize our ranks and firmly fight against all forms of foreign plunder and aggression. ###

Sa pagbubukas ng bagong pang-akademikong taon 2019–2020, tiyak na samu’t saring mga problema sa sektor ng edukasyon ang sasalubong sa mga mag-aaral. Bulok at sira-sira pa rin ang kagamitan at pasilidad sa mga pampublikong eskwelahan. Mainit at masikip ang kundisyon ng mga klasrum. Dahil sa sobrang kakulangan ng mga silid-aralan, napipilitan ang mga eskwelahan na hatiin ang isang klasrum sa dalawa hanggang apat na klase na may 80–100 estudyante kada isa. Kalunus-lunos din ang kalagayan ng mga guro na napilitang mag-opisina sa mga lumang banyo.

Dahil sa matinding kahirapan, at napakataas na gastusin sa edukasyon, umabot na sa halos 5 milyon ang bilang ng drop-out sa primarya at sekundaryang edukasyon. Sa halip na tugunan ng gobyerno ni Duterte ang mga usaping ito, pilit pa nitong isinusulong ang CHED Memo 20 at Mandatory ROTC na magpapasahol lamang sa kasalukuyang kalagayan ng sistema sa edukasyon.

Wika at Panitikan, Ipaglaban!

Ayon sa Saligang Batas 1897 Art XIV, Seksyon 6:

Ang wikang pambansa ng Pilipinas ay Filipino. Samantalang nililinang, ito ay dapat payabungin at pagyamanin pa salig sa umiiral na wika sa Pilipinas at sa iba pang mga wika. Alinsunod sa mga tadhana ng batas at sang-ayon sa nararapat na maaaring ipasya ng Kongreso, dapat magsagawa ng mga hakbangin ang Pamahalaan upang ibunsod at puspusang itaguyod ang paggamit ng Filipino bilang midyum ng opisyal na komunikasyon at bilang wika ng pagtuturo sa sistemang pang-edukasyon.

Sa kabila nito ay tuluyang ibininasura ang temporary restraining order sa CHED Memorandum №20 na nagtatanggal sa Filipino at Panitikan bilang ubod na asignatura sa kolehiyo. Binigyang daan ito ng pagkilala ng Korte Suprema sa programang K to 12 bilang “konstitusyonal”. Ang katwiran ng gobyerno, sapat na raw ang mga itinuturo sa hayskul at magmimistulang paulit-ulit na lamang kung ituturo pa ito sa kolehiyo.

Sa bagong General Education Curriculum (GEC) sa kolehiyo, walang Kasaysayan/ History sa senior high school at wala ring pag-aaral ng Konstitusyon / Philippine Government sa bagong GEC sa kolehiyo. Gayundin, wala ring Panitikan sa SHS at sa bagong GEC. Kaya naman maraming kasanayan, kaalaman at babasahin ang hindi matatalakay sa SHS.

Sa pagtanggal ng Filipino at Panitikan sa kolehiyo, sinisira ng gobyerno ang pagbubuo sa pagkakilanlan ng mamamayang Pilipino sa kanyang kultura at identidad. Alinsunod sa balangkas ng internasyunalisasyon, itinutulak ng gubyerno ang pagtatanggal ng mga asignaturang sa palagay nito’y hindi “kagamit-gamit” at walang pakinabang para sa mga naglalakihang dayuhang negosyo kagaya ng kasaysayan at panitikan. Sa halip ay makaisang panig na nagdidiin sa mga pag-aaral gaya ng Agham, Matematika, Ingles at teknikal at bokasyunal na kakayahan. Naglalayon ito na lumikha ng malaking balon ng kimi at murang halaga ng lakas paggawa sa hanay ng mga kabataan.

Tutulan ang Mandatory ROTC!

Sabayang nilulusaw ng gubyerno ang diwang kritikal ng mga kabataan, habang ibinabandila naman ang kultura ng karahasan at bulag na pagsunod sa pamamagitan ng pagraratsada ng mandatory ROTC sa kongreso at senado. Imbis na linangin at bigyang-diin ang pag-aaral sa ating kultura at kasaysayan upang likas na yumabong ang diwang makabayan ng mga kabataan, nagsusulong pa ito ng isang polisiyang naipabasura halos dalawang dekada na ang nakararaan dahil sa kurapsyon, karahasan, at pamamaslang.

Unang naging mandatory ang ROTC sa kolehiyo noong pinirmahan ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Executive Order №59 noong 1967. Ngunit matagumpay na ibinasura ng mga kabataan ang programang ito noong 2001, matapos patayin ang noo’y UST ROTC cadet na si Mark Welson Chua na siyang nagsiwalat sa karahasan at korapsyon sa loob ng institusyon. Bagama’t naging opsyonal, nagpatuloy pa rin ang mga kaso ng abuso at pandarahas.

Matagal nang kinakasangkapan ng AFP ang ROTC para tiktikan ang progresibong mga organisasyon at takutin ang mga estudyante na sumama sa mga pagkilos.

Sa ilalim ng ROTC, tinuturuan ang mga estudyante ng kultura ng pandarahas at paglabag sa karapatang pantao. Masahol na’t nananatili pa rin ang ROTC sa mga pamantasan, ang pagbabalik ng mandatory ROTC sa senior high school, ay tahasang pagbawi ng tagumpay ng mga kabataan na lumaban sa karahasan. Mas paiigtingin nito ang panunupil sa mga kabataan at ang pagpapalaganap ng anti-mamamayang kultura ng mga militar.

Isulong ang tunay na nasyunalismo!

Hindi naglalayon ang CHED Memo 20 at mandatory ROTC na magturo ng nasyunalismo. Pinapatay ng mga ito ang kritikal at makabayang pag-iisip. Sineselyuhan na ang sistema ng edukasyong hinuhubog ang mga kabataang maging bulag at siil na lakas paggawa na ilalako sa murang halaga sa mga dayuhang kapitalista.

Ang katotohanan ay wala namang karapatang magbandila ng nasyunalismo si Duterte dahil siya ang pangunahing taksil sa bayan. Inilalagay niya ang bansa sa gitna ng tumitinding ribalan ng mga imperyalistang bayan na Estados Unidos at Tsina.

Lantad na lantad ang kanyang pangangayupapa sa mga dayuhan, lalo na sa panghihimasok ng Tsina sa ating teritoryo sa West Philippine Sea. Nananatili siyang tahimik sa gitna ng sunud-sunod na atake sa mga Pilipinong mangingisda alang-alang sa malaking kikbak na makukuha mula sa mabibigat na pautang ng Tsina.

Dahil dito ay nabibigyang-katwiran ang US-RP Mutual Defense Treaty, para panatilihin at palakasin ng EU ang kanyang mga base militar dito sa bansa. Ngunit hanggang ngayon, ang EU ay wala pa ring ginagawang aksyon para ipagtanggol ang Pilipinas. Patunay ito na wala tayong ibang sasaligan kundi ang ating sariling lakas at paglaban.

Sa harap ng tumitinding atake sa ating soberanya ay dapat magkaisa ang mamamayan para igiit ang pagpapalayas ng mga militar at kagamitang pandigma sa West Philippine Sea, at ipagtanggol ang mga mangingisdang Pilipino. Tutulan ang mabibigat na pautang at pandarambong sa ating likas yaman. Magkaisa upang wakasan ang mga ‘di pantay na tratado sa pagitan ng EU at Pilipinas, at palayasin ang mga dayuhang militar sa bansa.

Sa kabila ng atake sa makabayang edukasyon at sa soberanya ng bansa, dapat ipamalas ng mga kabataan ang tunay na nasyunalismo. Dapat pag-aralan ang makabayang mga aralin at babasahin. Marapat kilalanin ang kasaysayan ng Pilipinas na inaalipin ng mga dayuhang bayan, at ang walang maliw na paglaban ng sambayanang Pilipino para igiit ang tunay at ganap na kalayaan.

Buuin at palawakin ang alyansa ng mga kabataang nagmamahal sa bayan. Ilunsad ang mga pagtitipon at asembliya upang mabuo ang kaisahang ipagtanggol ang bayan laban sa mga dayuhan.

Kabigin ang suporta ng mga indibidwal, organisasyon at institusyon mula sa ibang bayan. Palakasin ang pagkakaisa ng mga mamamayan ng buong daigdig laban sa imperyalistang atake at pangangayupapa.

Ilunsad ang malalaki at malalawak na kilos protesta sa buong bansa. Dapat bumuhos ang libo-libong kabataan sa lansangan para makalikha ng daluyong ng pagbabago. Paghalawan ng aral ang malakas na paglaban ng kabataan sa matagumpay na pagpapabasura ng mga base militar ng Estados Unidos noong 1992.

Ngayon ang pinakamainam na panahon upang pumili, hindi sa pagitan ng Estados Unidos at Tsina, kundi sa pagitan ng huwad na kalayaan at tunay na kalayaan. Ngayon ang panahong dapat ipamalas ng kabataan ang kanyang lakas, at isanib sa lakas ng masang anakpawis, at tuluyang ibagsak ang papet, pahirap at pasistang rehimeng US-Duterte.

SUMAMA SA MGA PAGKILOS!

June 28- National Day of Action

July 22- People’s SONA

In commemoration of the fourth death anniversary of Jennifer Laude, national militant youth group League of Filipino Students condemns the continuing injustice and lack of accountability from the US troops-coddler Philippine government.

Laude was raped and murdered by US marine Joseph Scott-Pemberton in Olongapo City on October 11, 2014. She was found dead in a motel, with her head submerged in a toilet bowl.

“For over a century of US military intervention in our country, not a single American soldier was ever convicted for the numerous heinous crimes that were committed against the Filipino people. The murder of Jennifer Laude is not an isolated case. The longer that our own government conforms to lopsided agreements with the US imperialists, the more victims if human rights violations”, League of Filipino Students national spokesperson Kara Taggaoa said.

In year 2014, the Aquino government signed the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) and Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) which allowed the installment of US military bases in our country. Hiding under the guise of ‘mutual defense treaties’, the bloodstained AFP has time and again opened our national territory to heightened militarization — at the expense of local communities and lives of ordinary Filipinos.

“Jennifer’s death is not just a matter of hate crime. She did not only suffer the grave gender-based violence dictated by a feudal-patriarchal society, she was also victimized by the longtime “war against terror’ that the US government sponsors”, Taggaoa added.

Years after the Pemberton’s dreadful crime, justice was denied. His plea on the court to grant him bail and reconsider the ‘guilty’ verdict on him was time after time, granted by the Philippine justice system. Now, he is spared from his crimes and was even promoted in a higher position in the US marines.

“We lament with the family and friends of Jennifer Laude. Her death is a manifestation of the brutal terror that the US has long-time inflicted in our country. The US government is the prime sponsor of the wars that the government wages against the people. Even with Duterte’s term, US military intervention has always been a patron of pacifying the militant resistance in the country”, Taggaoa elaborated.

“As long as our government continues to conform to crooked agreements such as EDCA and VFA, ‘discrimination’ is an understatement for the consequences we’re bound to face. Under the Duterte administration, US continues to sponsor Oplan Kapayapaan, Martial Law, and Oplan Tokhang. With the US imperialists, the government serves us our death sentences every day. We have no other way but fight”, Taggaoa ended.

As the Duterte regime further plunges the nation into deeper economic crisis, the dissent of the Filipino people continues to grow. Recently, the Duterte administration has hit rock bottom, where in cabinet members have been leaving Malacañang to pursue their very own personal interests by seeking their very own seats in the Legislative branch.

Former PCOO secretary Mocha Uson delivered the first blow by claiming that she resigned due to members of the house slowing down the deliberation of the budget for her office, until it was later revealed by insiders in Malacañang that she was fired by Duterte himself.

As if Mocha Uson’s firing isn’t enough of a blow to the Duterte administration, Harry Roque later takes a leave from his post as presidential spokesperson and expresses that he no longer sees himself fit for the job. This all happened days after Duterte himself discouraged Roque from running for Senator in the coming 2019 elections for the reason that according to Duterte, he did not have the militaries favor.

Soon after Roque’s drama, one of Duterte’s closest ally Foreign affairs secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, expresses his intentions of resigning from his post, in order to bag a seat in congress as representative of Taguig.

As the Duterte administration continues to destroy itself, the members of the administration are further exposing themselves by showing their own personal interests, to boost their own political careers. It’s a complete manifestation of how Duterte, and the members of his administration are no different from those who have previously sat in Malacañang; self serving, typical, politicians who continue to serve the interests of the rich, thus boosting the ever growing gap between the rich and the poor.

As the Filipino people rejoice at the loss of positions of these parasites of Philippine society, we call on the unified Filipino people to keep them out of Philippine politics, and join the growing call to oust the very man who has allowed them to function in government, and in the process, waste the people’s hard earned taxes.

The League of Filipino Students decries the blatant attempt of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to use educational institutions such as the Department of Education (DepEd) Commission on Higher Education (CHED) as a means threaten schools, and execute its fascist attacks against the Filipino people. In relation to the AFP’s “Red October” scheme, its forces are desperately attempting to institutionalize attacks against students who speak up against the social injustices sponsored by the government. With this, the AFP not only commits a wanton violation of the Filipino students’ and academe’s right to free speech and academic freedom, but it also endangers their lives all for the sake of retaining an already unstable dictatorial regime.

Last October 4, 2018, the AFP asked DepEd and CHED officials for their cooperation in ‘eradicating’ the recruitment of “communist rebels” in schools, particularly those part of the AFP’s list of eighteen schools that were suspected as grounds for subversive activities. As for the basis for such accusations, the AFP has failed to uphold its integrity when releasing information that only serves as black propaganda against the youth who are critical of the administration’s faults.

The list that the AFP has produced is highly questionable as it produced the name, “Caloocan City College,” which was later verified by CHED records and the mayor of Caloocan City, himself. Furthermore, the AFP also confirmed that the information it had released was unverified.

Falsus in uno, falsus in omnibus — as the AFP failed to produce credible information of the list of schools involved in the “Red October” ploy, the entire ploy itself then becomes questionable; moreover, because the information on the schools are simply things that came from unverified sources, it then becomes crucial to point out that the AFP has simply summoned baseless black propaganda against the students and the academe.

The Duterte regime is already so desperate that even its armed forces are experiencing blunders in their initiations of black propaganda against the critics of the fascist dictator’s regime. In fact, such desperateness escalated to a whole new level when the AFP had even blatantly accused the Martial Law film screenings as recruitment grounds for subversive groups. Clearly, the AFP has done nothing but to silence critics, and even events such as film screenings that could serve as alternative classrooms that would shape the critical mindedness of the students.

Once more, the League asserts its condemnation over the attempt of the AFP to use educational institutions as a means to enforce militarization in schools and fascist attacks against the Filipino people. It not only denounces the students’ and the academe’s right to academic freedom, but also their freedom of speech and their right to their lives. As the youth sector, which is largely composed of students from different areas, it becomes a must that the struggle towards national democracy intensify under the mafia-style regime of Duterte. It is through the youth that the voices of the voiceless could be heard. It is through the youth that genuine social change can be achieved for the generations to follow. Most importantly, it is through militant struggle that the best could be brought out of the youth. ##

National militant youth organization League of Filipino Students denounces the hefty price hikes of P 1.45 for diesel and P 1 for gasoline that took effect since yesterday, adding to the 9th consecutive week of fuel price hikes in the country. With the worsening inflation of basic goods and services, majority of the ordinary poor Filipinos are now more than ever put into an economically disadvantaged position.

“The substantial increases in fuel prices is a serious national concern that Duterte should be addressing. Instead of going all-out paranoid with his ‘destabilization plot’ that he himself created, he should be more concerned on the deteriorating economic state of his countrymen”, League of Filipino Students National Spokesperson Kara Taggaoa said.

Under the Duterte administration, he has welcomed his profit-thirsty economic managers to implement the TRAIN law, which imposed more taxation on the poor. Since its first wave, TRAIN has been nothing but a damage to the country’s economy. The rise in prices of other basic commodities and services such as rice, oil, transport, etc. has proven that this tax reform has no long-term solution to the deeply-rooted crises of the country. The ongoing crisis in the country’s mass transportation could not easily be mended by the ‘pantawid-pasada’ program when the government allows foreign companies to extract large amounts of profit. It has no fundamental social support for the Filipinos while it has full-blown imposition of taxes.

“The country’s inflation basket continues to bloat because the ‘fiscal incentives’ that Duterte brags about his TRAIN 2 are incentives meant for more foreign economic intervention in our country. These are not meant to establish our own national industries but to give way for more foreign plunder of our labor and resources”, Taggaoa added.

“Duterte’s insistent deregulation in the country’s market allows for more dependence on imports and unreasonable increase in prices. The TRAIN law funds the government’s Build, Build, Build program — masking as an effort to create more infrastructure projects for our benefit when in fact, it paves more efficient ways for foreign extortion of our resources. What this country needs is an advanced agriculture, stable irrigation systems for our Filipino farmers, among others”, Taggaoa elaborated.

“Duterte should start doing his job, address the socio-economic needs of the people. He should be held accountable for his outright disregard of his duties as this country’s president. He invests so much time on building more conditions for nationwide Martial Law while he falls blind to the real and more important issues of this country.”, Taggaoa added.

“We demand the government to junk the TRAIN Law, remove all taxes on fuel, and stop the ongoing price hikes. Duterte has full control on this corrosive economic policy. More and more lives are endangered because of this and his negligence”, Taggaoa ended. ###

“Enough with the diversionary tactics and start doing something for this country”, this is League of Filipino Students national spokesperson Kara Tagaoa’s message to Duterte and his AFP.

Weeks following the successful United People’s Action on September 21, the AFP has attempted to strengthen its disinformation program among the youth in various universities and schools. With the aim of discrediting the ever-growing resistance of more and more sectors against the Duterte regime, the AFP has resorted to red-tagging students from various universities, claiming that their schools are breeding grounds for NPA recruitment.

“The Red October Plot and allegations of communist recruitment in schools and universities are all products of the AFP’s paranoia. Unlike them, the students are not foot soldiers nor blind followers of a fascist regime. We are critical of the government and no one can thwart our rage against the injustices it creates”, Taggaoa added.

Instead of drowning in deep suspicions, the AFP should start working. A large portion of the national budget is allotted for militarization while the government can’t even provide the country’s basic social services such as health, housing and education.

“The AFP is wasting their time on this fictional blame-game that they’ve created. Their claims of communist insurgency in schools and destabilization plot of Duterte are the very reasons why the government is drawing closer to its downfall. The people couldn’t count on the AFP nor Duterte”, Taggaoa added.

While the AFP has gone all-out with laying down conditions for nationwide Martial Law, it has also revealed more and more of its mediocrity in defending our national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Yesterday, DFA Sec. Cayetano has announced the possible rushing of the joint exploration of the Philippines with China on the West Philippine Sea.

“Duterte and the AFP are so anxious about ‘eradicating’ communism and NPA recruitment in schools, projecting that these are all for national defense and fighting terrorism; but when it comes to China and US, they can’t even defend our country. Worse, they welcome these incursions and foreign military interventions with open arms”, Taggaoa said.

“The AFP and the PNP should not infiltrate our schools. They are not welcome. The presence of these blood-stained institutions in our universities creates more chaos than security. Instead of targeting the youth, they should invest all their energy and efforts in defending the West Philippine Sea. They should be combatting foreign incursions in our territories. They should be penalizing this country’s big-time drug smugglers. If the AFP and the PNP cannot do their basic jobs, then we will not wonder why the NPA do it for them”, Taggaoa ended.

“How can we expect the youth to reach their full potential and be effective bringers of change when the government itself doesn’t have the slightest care for the rights and welfare of their citizens? When we cry out our legitimate demands and air our grievances, we are branded terrorists. Since when has fighting for what is right and justly ours been an act of terrorism? What is terroristic is Duterte’s utter disregard to heed the legitimate demands of the Filipino people, particularly the youth’s right to education,” commented Kara Taggaoa, spokesperson of the League of Filipino Students after Department of Education Secretary Liling Briones said that senior high graduates are less likely to find jobs in government.

The League of Filipino Students slammed the Duterte administration for failing to ensure adequate and decent jobs to Filipinos, not just senior high graduates, amidst his failure to end contractualization and raise workers’ wages. Despite several promises and pronouncements, Duterte has failed in his campaign promise of ending this unfair labor practice both in the public and private sector.

The youth group previously slammed DepEd and Duterte for continuing the implementation of the K-12 program amidst widespread clamor for its scraping. The group said that this only creates a pool of semi-skilled, cheap, and docile workers ready to be exploited by foreign and local capitalists. The group further added that this has only created even more problems than solutions to the current crisis in education.

“Since day 1 we’ve condemned the implementation of K-12 program as it doesn’t benefit the youth, teachers, and the Filipino people in general. Look at what we’re facing right now: thousands of senior high graduates are unable to find work because they are not ‘employable’ by current standards; even the government thinks that they’re unfit for work. And yet the DepEd still has the gall to call the program a success when senior high graduates are left uncertain about their future,” said Taggaoa.

“However, we shouldn’t be surprised because this is what the program was designed to do: create an army of cheap and docile workers for capitalist exploitation. The rate at which students graduate and become part of the labor force is far greater than the number of jobs being created. Thus, as demands for jobs increase, businesses have all the more reason to cut down wages and push for greater labor flexibilization (i.e. contractualization, 4-day work week, etc) to maximize profit as much as possible. The only ones benefiting here are Duterte and his oligarch cronies,” added Taggaoa.

The youth group also pointed out other problems that students face under K-12. One, senior high graduates who enrolled in college in courses not related to their SHS track are required to take additional subjects in what’s called a bridging program. They say they need these additional subjects to help them cope with the degree program of their choice. Second, senior high students, particularly in private schools, deal with exorbitant tuition and other school fees that increase annually; moreover, they are being forced to pay dubious other fees that are not necessarily required. Third, public senior high school students have to deal with dilapidated and inadequate facilities that are directly affecting their education.

“Dahil sa hirap ng buhay, parami ng parami at pabata ng pabata ang mga Pilipinong napipilitang magtrabaho. Pero sa ganitong kalagayan na ikaw mismo’y tinatanggalan ng oportunidad na makapagtrabaho, ano pang gagawin mo? Ano kayang mararamdaman ng isang senior high graduate kapag sinabihan siyang hindi siya ‘employable’ matapos siyang dumanas ng dagdag dalawang taon sa hayskul? Naipatupad ang libreng edukasyon sa kolehiyo pero ngayo’y pilit itong binabawi’t ipinagkakait sa mga kabataan,” said Taggaoa.

“Walang pakialam si Duterte sa karaingan ng ordinaryong mamamayan; sabi nga niya, wala siyang pakialam kung mahirap kayo. Hinahayaan lang niyang malugmok lalo sa kahirapan ang mga Pilipino sa tuloy-tuloy na pagtaas ng presyo ng mga bilihin habang binibigyan ng luwag ang mga kapitalista’t naghaharing-uri na makapagsamantala sa mamamayan,” Taggaoa added.

“DepEd has only exposed the K-12 program’s uselessness and inutility. Sec. Briones falters in defending the program because there’s nothing more to defend. This is all the more reason to call for the scraping of the program altogether and put in place an education system that truly addresses the needs and demands of the Filipino people,” Taggaoa explained. ###