Philippines: The NPA Resists in Mindoro and Carries Out New Operations in Negros Island
Feature image: Map highlights the island of Mindoro in the Philippines.
On the 1st of January the AFP deployed four attack helicopters and dropped no less than 12 aerial bombs, as well as launching rockets and continuous aerial strafing for several hours against peasant and indigenous Mangyan communities in Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro, reports Philippine Revolution Web Central (PRWC).
The New People’s Army (NPA) unit in the area actively defended itself amid the hundreds of AFP-deployed troopers. Two consecutive encounters killed two soldiers and wounded two others. The NPA unit maneuvered away without further losses. At least three children and two youth researchers were murdered due to the AFP bombing. The mother of the children was wounded.
PRWC reports that the militarization in Mindoro is increasing. Currently there are around 10 and a half battalions of combined AFP, PNP, and CAFGU forces that are deployed on the island. These include the 76th IB, 1st IB, 59th IB, and 5th Scout Ranger Battalion under the 203rd IBde and 2nd ID. This militarization seeks to grab the lands, evict the peasantry and hand over the natural resources to monopolies.
Widespread condemnation followed the attack. The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) condemned that the attack took place when “The unit of the NPA was in the area observing the CPP’s unilateral ceasefire declaration (December 31 and January 1)”.
The National Democratic Front (NDF)-Mindoro expressed “its heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and loved ones of Jerlyn Rose Doydora after she died from an illness triggered by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)’s relentless bombing.”
Friends of the Filipino People in Struggle (FFPS) condemned the bombings in Mindoro and the detention of the activist Chantal Anicoche:
The NPA carried out other operations in the past two weeks. In Canlaon City, Negros Island, the NPA eliminated a rapist. The operation was a success despite the heavy military presence in the area. The rapist was also an intelligence agent of the AFP and the Philippine National Police (PNP) and was sentenced to death by a revolutionary people’s court.
A revolutionary people’s court also condemned to death a traitor of the revolution in the Negros Island, who actively guided the operations of AFP forces and abused the peasants of the area. This traitor was eliminated on January 7.
A drug dealer was eliminated in the island of Negros on January 5. He was also guilty of the rape of his relatives and children. Additionally he was an asset of the PNP.
