PRESS RELEASE
Information Bureau
Communist Party of the Philippines

CPP blasts at Malacaņang, AFP for outright lies on encounter between AFP and NPA
December 1, 2004

The Communist Party of the Philippines today lambasted officials of the Arroyo government and the Armed Forces of the Philippines for "outright distortions of facts" with regard to the November 30 encounter between the New People's Army (NPA) and troops of the Philippine Army's 56th Infantry Battalion at Pasong Bangkal, San Ildefonso, Bulacan.

Citing newly arrived reports from the NPA's Eastern Bulacan Operational Command, CPP spokesman Gregorio "Ka Roger" Rosal revealed that the 56th IBPA had actually been conducting offensive military operations for the past two weeks in the mountainous areas of Angat, Pandi, Norzagaray and Doņa Remedios Trinidad towns. Contrary to Malacanang and AFP claims, the said AFP unit was not in any way involved in any kind of humanitarian relief effort for typhoon victims.

"The 56th IB's efforts to encircle the NPA unit were in vain due to the ever valuable assistance of the peasant masses," said Rosal. "For two weeks, the NPA unit successfully evaded the AFP and avoided a clash and was able to shift towards the area of San Ildefonso and San Rafael towns."

Rosal narrated: "While resting in a mango grove in the morning of November 30, the NPA unit learned that the 56th IB was still conducting its pursuit operations. It was then that the NPA decided to bring the fight to the 56th IB. But first," continued Rosal, "the NPA unit distanced itself from the barrio to prevent the masses in the area from being caught in the crossfire."

"In the ensuing firefight, around 14 enemy troops were killed," Rosal said. "Six other soldiers were wounded. They laid down their arms in response to the NPA's call for them to peacefully surrender. They were gathered in one place and treated humanely in accordance with international rules of war," said Rosal.

Rosal reported that the NPA unit suffered a few casualties -- Anacleto Butuan, Jr., a Red fighter from Calumpit, Bulacan who was killed in action, as well as three other guerrillas who sustained minor injuries. The NPA unit was unable to retrieve Butuan's body.

According to the NPA-Eastern Bulacan Command, the NPA unit was composed of 22 fighters, most of whom were new recruits. They were able to seize an M60 light machine gun, an M203 rifle, three M14 rifles and 13 M16 rifles, according to Rosal.

Rosal lambasted Malacaņang spokesman Ignacio Bunye, Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz and officials of the AFP and the Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM), "for their outright prevarications."

"The 56th IB was never part of a rescue and relief operation, as Malacaņang, the DND and the AFP claim," said Rosal. He pointed out that the mountainous area between San Ildefonso and San Rafael, where the firefight took place, is a long distance away from the calamity areas.

"To put it plainly: the November 30 encounter happened because troops belonging to the 56th IBPA has been pursuing the fighters of the NPA-Eastern Bulacan. In defense, the NPA put up a fight, turning the tables around and coming out victorious," Rosal added.

Unable to accept such a stunning tactical defeat in the hands of the NPA, Malacaņang and its minions are now trying to appeal to the people's emotions and portray the NPA as insensitive to the plight of calamity victims by resorting to such cheap misrepresentations, said Rosal.

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



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