Unprincipled Activism on Social Media: Former Rebels Speak Out

Today, activism online has become the norm, but a kind of “unprincipled activism” is changing the flow of national democratic discourse. According to former rebel Job David, there is a noticeable rise in arrogance and hostility among activists on social media.

“Troll. Tila hanggang ganito na lamang ang inaabot ng kalidad ng ilang mga aktibista ngayon,” David began, describing the alarming degradation of language and ethics within progressive movements.

“‘Puta,’ ‘bayaran,’ ‘tanga,’ ‘DDS,’ ‘sinuka ng rebolusyon’ … ganitong mga salita ang bumubuo sa kanilang mga argumento,” he said. “Hindi lang ito ibinabato sa dating rebelde kundi pati na rin sa mga membro ng ibang organisasyon na hindi sumasangayon sa kanilang linya.” 

David calls it a crisis of character and ideology. Many invoke Marxism-Leninism-Maoism, he said, yet fail to live by its principles. “They easily speak of ‘sacrifice,’ ‘death,’ and ‘revolution’—until the time comes when they themselves are called to make sacrifices,” he said.

Having spent six years in the mountains, David speaks from experience.

“Ang aking asawa at ang mga kababaihan na dating rebelde ay sinakripisyo nila ang kanilang kinabukasan,” he said. “Sinakripisyo nila ang comfort, pangarap, at pamilya para tumangan ng armas. Libre nila itong ibinigay na ang naging kapalit ay pagluluksa, trauma, at pait ng kinabukasan.”

David compares the old and new generations of revolutionaries

“Di tulad nila, maraming mga aktibista ngayon ang hindi kayang isakripisyo ang kanilang sarili, pamilya, pag-aaral, trabaho. Katumbas lang ng inyong pananatili ang aming pagsuko,” he said.

He calls attention to the rise of performative outrage, where discipline is being replaced by dominance, and unity by division. They denounce oppression but disparage women, former comrades, and the poor—the same sectors they say they represent.

“Kailan pa naging katanggap-tanggap na manawagan para sa karapatan ng kababaihan pero casual na mang-insulto ng isang babae sa paraang mapanghamak sa kanyang pagiging babae?”

The Voice of a Mother and Former Rebel

Also speaking out is Arian Jane Ramos, a former rebel, woman and mother, who shared a candid view of the wounds left by ideological abuse.

“Naging puta ka na ng militar,” she began. “Iyan ang mantsang idinidikit nila sa noo mo kapag ikaw ay bumitiw. Kapag nadakip ka. Kapag nagsuko ka ng armas. Kapag nagpahinga ka. Kapag nagtanong ka kung tama pa bang ituloy ang gerilyang pakikibaka ni Mao Zedong—ang doktrinang nakaugat sa Marxismo-Leninismo, na inaral mo, sinapuso mo, at unti-unting sinakal ang iyong kalayaan.”

Ramos’ testimony makes clear the psychological and emotional pain experienced by those who left the movement. For her, liberation did not come from revolution, but in having the courage to question it.

“Hindi kami naging puta ng militar. Kami ay naging puta sa diktadura ng Partido Komunista,” she stated.

She shared that they traded their youth, humanity, and motherhood for ideology. 

“Ibinenta namin ang aming sarili sa isang ideolohiyang hindi kailanman nagmahal, isinugal ang aming kabataan sa ngalan ng digmang bayan, iniwan ang mga anak sa mga estranghero, sinuway ang mga magulang, isinuko ang sariling pangalan kapalit ng isang alyas—habang unti-unting ninanakaw ng kilusan ang aming kalayaan.”

For Ramos, the tragedy is not defeat, but moral decay within the movement; truth is punished, obedience is rewarded.

“Ngayon, hindi na kami alipin ng ilusyon. Kami ay mga buhay na patunay na walang tunay na kalayaan sa loob ng isang kilusang binuo sa takot at panlilinlang.”

Ramos ends her message refusing to stoop to the level of insults.

“Kung sino ka man, hindi mo ako maririnig na sasabihan kitang ‘Ptang Ina Mo.’ Dahil hindi ko kailangang bumaba sa antas ng panlalait mo para ipaglaban ang katotohanan.”

The statements of Job David and Arian Jane Ramos form a broad critique. The new battleground for activism is no longer in the streets or mountains. Instead, it is now on social media. In this space, ideology replaces integrity. Anger replaces empathy.

They remind us that true revolution begins with humility and confronting our own contradictions. Their warning: failing to live your principles will weaken the movement itself.