Philippines: Five AFP soldiers killed by the NPA in Moises Padilla and Guihulngan City
The Leonard Panaligan Command of the New People’s Army has engaged in a counteroffensive against the attack of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in the end of May. At least four soldiers of the AFP were killed in a firefight in Sitio Napiluan, Barangay Quintin Remo, Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental on the 20th of May. In an another encounter in Sitio Amumuyong, Barangay Trinidad, Guihulngan City on the following day, one soldier was killed.
The AFP also carried out terror against the masses in the area of these clashes. In Sitio Napiluan, a couple was murdered and in Sitio Amumuyong an elderly peasant and his son were killed, with the state planting weapons to the site in order to fake an encounter with the NPA.
As part of the psychological warfare of the AFP, it has also committed other atrocities against the masses and reported on fake encounters with the NPA. One of these was claimed to have happened on the 21st of May in Sityo Bajay, Barangay Caliling, Cauayan, Negros Occidental. The NPA refutes this claim and says no such encounter or casualties of the NPA have happened. Instead, a man belonging to the indigenous tumandok people was murdered by the AFP troops. Additionally, two peasants were arrested and murdered by the 15th IB (Infantry Battalion) in the city of Sipalay in Negros Occidental on the 25th and 27th of May as part of the military operation they are carrying out in the area.
The spokesperson of the NPA of the Southwest Negros condemns the attempt of the State to attack the armed revolution through atrocities against the masses, and highlights that the NPA cannot be wiped away with lies, and that the recent actions of the 15th IB (Infantry Battalion) just show true that it is right to do armed revolution against the old State, to replace the oppressive order.
Other recent actions of terror took place in Camarines Norte and Santa Catalina. In Barangay San Jose, Panganiban, Camarines Norte a man was tortured and killed on the 15th of May by the 9th IB . The 11th IB carried out a military operation in several Sitios around the Carima River in Barangay Talalak, Santa Catalina, Negros Oriental on the 16th of May, also firing at their own troops. The day after at least 10 residents of Sitio Undol, Barangay Talalak were detained, among them elderly people and children. In the same barangay Rani ‘Ka Jeje’ Casilao and Miralyn ‘Ka RV’ Fortunado were arrested on the 14th of May. The NPA Southeast Negros (Rachelle Mae Palang Command) write in a statement that the State forces are doing everything they can to ”secure” this area for mining in the interest of the imperialists.
