Fallen in Battle, Betrayed in Death

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Word on the Street is Kontra-Kwento’s letter to the editor. Send yours to kontrakwento@gmail.com

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In the so-called National Democratic revolution, the life of an activist or cadre is often measured less by conviction and more by its propaganda value. Sometimes, when a member is captured or killed in combat, the movement’s typical response is not to acknowledge their role in the armed struggle. Instead, it is to deny any involvement with the NPA and recast the individual as a civilian—emphasizing legal identities, professions, or academic affiliations. An innocent civilian caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. This reframing serves a calculated purpose: to portray the incident as illegitimate, to question the authenticity of any reported armed encounter, and to advance the narrative of extrajudicial execution.

By doing so, the incident becomes a platform for propaganda and a catalyst for public sympathy, which can then be leveraged for mobilization and fundraising. In contrast, openly admitting that the individual was an NPA combatant would frame the event as a legitimate military engagement, thereby justifying the state’s offensive operations. In such cases, the death would be reduced to an internal matter—marked perhaps by a quiet tribute of his collective to a fallen comrade, but offering little value in the broader propaganda arena.

Herein lies the irony. Individuals who join the armed movement do so with full awareness of the risks, often embracing the possibility of making the “supreme sacrifice” for the revolution. From the moment of their initiation, they are taught to aspire toward martyrdom—to one day be remembered as heroes who gave their lives for the cause. Each new member pledges unwavering commitment, internalizing the line of the Party pledge: “…buhay ko man ang ialay”.

Yet, instead of honoring that aspiration by openly recognizing their role and sacrifice, the CPP leadership frequently assigns greater importance to the strategic value of their deaths. Rather than commemorating them as fallen fighters, their stories are reshaped to serve a broader narrative—one that fuels campaigns for justice, amplifies political messaging, and attracts financial and material support. In this way, the propaganda offensive seeks to place the military on the defensive and diminish the perceived legitimacy of its operations.

This creates a deeply troubling outcome. Those who chose the path of armed struggle, who believed they would be remembered as brave red fighters, may instead be recast as civilians—researchers, students, teachers, artists or bystanders caught in unfortunate circumstances. The identity they embraced in life is obscured in death. Their hope of being honored as valiant red fighters fades into obscurity, replaced by narratives crafted for maximum political effect.

Ultimately, what remains is a stark contradiction: while individuals are taught to sacrifice everything for the revolution, their deaths are often repurposed not to honor their commitment, but to serve the continuing strategic needs of those who survive them.

Lope Nagusara