10/04/2026
HONOR VALOR, RESIST WAR: FROM THE DEATH MARCH TO IRAN’S DEFENSE OF SOVEREIGNTY
BAYAN strongly condemns the latest threats issued by Donald Trump against Iran, alongside the continuing crimes committed by the United States and Israel across the region. These escalating provocations expose once more the aggressive posture of US imperialism and its unwavering support for Zionist militarism, even under the guise of ceasefire and "de-escalation."
A ceasefire may pause open hostilities, but past US- and Israel-brokered agreements—especially in Palestine—have proven fragile and deceptive, often paving the way for renewed aggression.
Recent attacks on Lebanon immediately following ceasefire declarations, alongside statements by Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu that such agreements do not cover Lebanon, expose the duplicity of these arrangements. These are not instruments of peace but mechanisms for managing and extending war, revealing an unrestrained drive for escalation and bloodshed. The so-called 12-day war on Iran, followed by renewed strikes on February 28, reveals a continuing pattern of aggression in which pauses serve only as brief interruptions, while the war itself is sustained and deliberate.
Recent bombings targeting schools, civilian infrastructure, and even science and technology facilities in Iran reveal a clear strategic objective: to cripple the country’s scientific and industrial development. These are not incidental damages of war but calculated acts aimed at reversing Iran’s advances in self-reliance and forcing it into a condition of dependency—a pattern long imposed by the United States on nations it seeks to dominate. This is the logic of imperialism: to destroy what a nation has built so that it may be subordinated economically, politically, and technologically.
The implications are grave. An attack on a nation’s scientific base is an attack on its future—its capacity to develop independently, to provide for its people, and to assert sovereignty in a world order structured by inequality. What is being waged is not merely a military campaign but a war against development itself.
This war is not distant—it is already hitting Filipino families. US-Israeli aggression against Iran is driving up oil prices, raising the cost of food, transport, and electricity, and crushing the wages of workers. Overseas Filipino Workers in the Middle East face growing danger, putting millions of families at risk as remittances are threatened. Jobs are lost, prices rise, and poverty deepens. This is an imperialist war—it always comes home to the poor.
We call on peace-loving, anti-war, and anti-imperialist peoples across the globe to remain steadfast and vigilant. The ceasefire must not dull our resistance. Rather, it should be seized as an opportunity to intensify our calls to end the United States’ endless wars, economic blockades, sanctions, and regime change operations—not only against Iran but against all nations resisting imperialist domination.
As we commemorate Araw ng Kagitingan, we are reminded of the profound cost of war and the enduring meaning of resistance. The memory of the Bataan Death March stands as a testament to the suffering inflicted by imperialist and fascist aggression—and to the courage and dignity of those who resisted. The Filipino people know, in the deepest sense, what it means to fight for sovereignty under the most brutal conditions.
In this spirit, we honor the Iranian people for their valor, dignity, and steadfast defense of their sovereignty. Their struggle resonates with our own history of resistance and our continuing fight against imperialism. In times of imperialist war, it is the greatest patriots, the most resolute defenders of the people, who emerge. We have never run out of them—in the Philippines, Palestine, Lebanon, Cuba, Venezuela, Iran, and across the world—because history demands it and because the future depends on it.
We condemn the subservience of the Marcos Jr. administration to US military interests. At a time of escalating conflict, the Philippine government is deepening its role as a forward base for US-led war preparations. Exercises such as Balikatan Exercises and Salaknib 2026 now involve thousands of troops and expanded participation from allied forces, transforming the country into a platform for multi-domain military operations across air, land, and sea. These are not routine drills but rehearsals for regional conflict, positioning the Philippines within US strategic designs in the Asia-Pacific region. This sustained and overlapping military presence heightens the risk of entanglement in wars not of our making. We reiterate our call to dismantle foreign military bases, end Balikatan and related exercises, and uphold an independent foreign policy.
Let this moment strengthen our unity and resolve. The struggle for peace is inseparable from the struggle against imperialism. We stand with all nations and peoples resisting domination, and we reaffirm our commitment to building a just and lasting peace grounded in sovereignty, dignity, and genuine independence.
Never forget the Death March—and never let another people walk it alone.
Long live international solidarity!
Stop the US imperialist and Israeli Zionist war on Iran! Lift the sanctions!
Resist US-led wars!
