PRESS RELEASE
Information Bureau
Communist Party of the Philippines

One can no longer believe AFP/PNP reports -- Ka Roger
July 7, 2003

Contrary to reports by the Philippine National Police saying 20 members of the New People's Army were killed in an encounter the other day in Botolan town in Zambales, the Communist Party of the Philippines today said that "in fact, not a single NPA fighter was killed."

CPP spokesman Gregorio "Ka Roger" Rosal bared this information after receiving verified reports from the NPA-Josefino Corpus Command in Central Luzon.

"One can no longer believe AFP and PNP reports especially after their recent successive incredulous and totally fabricated reports (about NPA casualties)," Rosal said.

Rosal was refering to AFP and PNP reports about supposed heavy NPA casualties in encounters in Pampanga and Zambales, which he said were totally untrue.

PNP officials in Zambales reported yesterday that another 20 NPA fighters were killed in an encounter in Botolan, Zambales. The day before, AFP Maj. Gen. Alberto Braganza reported that the NPA suffered 20 casualties in an encounter between AFP troops and an NPA unit in Sasmuan town, in Pampanga.

"After these false reports released by the AFP, I urge media reporters and the media to help the people by taking the extra mile to verify such reports, especially if they come from AFP and PNP press releases," Rosal said.

Rosal also said that "in an effort to prove their false claims, the AFP might direct their fire against civilians and present them as members of the NPA."

He also urged the media, church and human rights groups to help investigate reports that civilians in Sasmuan and Botolan towns are being harassed by the AFP to suppress the truth about the NPA-AFP armed encounters over the weekend. ###

Reference:
Anne Buenaventura
Media Officer
Cellphone Number: +63910-240-3553



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