The National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) marked its 53rd founding anniversary on April 24 with renewed calls to advance its revolutionary program, citing intensifying global conflicts and domestic socio-economic challenges.
In statements issued by NDFP leaders and founding figures, the organization emphasized that worsening international tensions—particularly those linked to U.S. military activity—are aggravating economic hardships in the Philippines and heightening threats to national sovereignty.
NDFP Secretary General Elias Dipasupil said the national democratic revolution “continues to advance nationwide,” pointing to ongoing armed and mass struggles in both rural and urban areas. He claimed that despite sustained counterinsurgency campaigns, the New People’s Army (NPA) retains support in the countryside, while protest actions and organizing efforts persist in cities.
The NDFP reiterated its 12-point program as the framework guiding its political objectives, including calls for agrarian reform, national industrialization, expanded democratic rights, and an independent foreign policy. These aims address longstanding issues such as landlessness, low wages, and limited access to social services.
Founding chair Jose Maria Sison highlighted the historical role of the NDFP as a “broad united front” bringing together various sectors opposed to dictatorship and foreign domination. He traced its origins to the early 1970s, when organizations were forced underground during martial law, and underscored its continued role in mobilizing workers, peasants, and middle sectors.
Sison also stressed the strategic importance of the united front in revolutionary theory, alongside armed struggle and political leadership, describing it as essential for consolidating support across different social classes.
Meanwhile, the CPP statement tied the anniversary to growing geopolitical tensions, caused by increased U.S. military presence and economic influence in the Philippines. It warned that expanded military agreements and joint exercises could draw the country into broader conflicts, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region.
The NDFP called on its allied organizations and supporters to “strengthen unity and determination” in the face of these developments, framing its struggle as part of a broader global movement against imperialism.
The anniversary statements project continuity and resilience while situating its campaign within both national and international contexts marked by economic uncertainty and geopolitical rivalry.