More tactical offensives to come after punishment raid on San Jose de Buan

Jose Sumoroy
Spokesperson
Efren Martires Command
New People's Army-Eastern Visayas
March 28, 2004

As we celebrate the 35th founding anniversary of the New People�s Army, the Efren Martires Command in Eastern Visayas vows to carry out more tactical offensives that it can win and as often as possible. The most recent successful tactical offensive of the NPA in the region is the raid last March 17 on the Alpha Company of the 34th Infantry Battalion and PNP station in San Jose de Buan, W. Samar. Thirteen Army soldiers and one policeman were killed in the raid, and the NPA confiscated two M16 rifles, three M14 rifles, and seven .38 and .45 cal. pistols. Three beloved Red fighters were martyred in the tactical offensive.

The Alpha Company of the 34th IB was the main target of the raid and not the PNP municipal station. The people of Samar demand that this vicious fascist unit be punished for repeatedly violating the CARHRIHL human rights accord between the National Democratic Front of the Philippines and the reactionary government. Among the brutalities and human rights abuses of the 34th IB�s Alpha Company are :

1. Terroristically killing innocent civilians accused as NPA supporters, like 60-year-old Fulgencio Gabin in Brgy. Gusa, San Jose de Buan last June 6, 2003, and 30-year-old Jossie Cabarles in Brgy. Totoringon, Catbalogan last Nov. 25, 2003;
2. Violating the rules of war in desecrating the remains of Carlito �Ka Terado� Salingsing, whose head was cut off after he was killed in an encounter last July 23, 2003 in Brgy. Naguma, Calbayog City, W. Samar;
3. Kidnapping and torturing alleged NPA supporters, and intimidating and beating up other innocent
civilians in the course of their military operations;
4. Using the peasants in forced labor on their military camps;
5. Wanton destruction of the people�s livelihood by damaging crops and farm animals during military operations;
6. Masterminding illegal logging in their area of responsibility in cahoots with illegal loggers based in Brgy. Buray, Paranas and Catbalogan; and
7. Lording over corrupt and anti-social activities like rampant gambling, habitual drunkenness, and various crimes in barangays near their camp.

The Efren Martires Command would also like to announce the following successful military actions of the New People�s Army in the past two months:

March 26, 2004�Red fighters of the Mt. Amandewin Command attacked a station of the Regional Intelligence Group-8 in Lake Danao, Ormoc City, killing two policemen.

March 2, 2004�In a defensive action, Red fighters of the Mt. Amandewin Command killed nine elements of the 19th Infantry Battalion in the course of a military raid on an NPA camp in brgy. Wague in Leyte, Leyte. One Red fighter also died while the rest of the NPA unit withdrew safely.

February 18, 2004�Alerted by their early warning device, 15 Red fighters of the Lupito Mingote Command were able to seize the initiative during a raid by the military in Dolores, Eastern Samar. Instead, five elements of the Bravo Company of the 14th Infantry Battalion were killed. Two of the enemy casualties were killed by the NPA, while in the ensuing confusion the other three were shot dead by their fellow soldiers in a misencounter.

February 13, 2004�Red partisans of the Florencio Elairon Command punished Loidesito Labtic, intelligence agent of the 52nd Infantry Battalion, in Brgy. Aguinaldo, Gen. MacArthur, E. Samar. Aside from sentencing him to death as a military spy, the people�s court also found Labtic guilty of murder as well as participation in a massacre in Brgy. Osmena in the same town.

The Efren Martires Command warns the most bloodthirsty units of the 8th Infantry Division that they will be the principal targets of the NPA tactical offensives in the region. All AFP and PNP units, except for certain personnel who are non-combatants, are considered legitimate military targets. However, the records of each unit are carefully weighed and the opinion of the people considered before any offensive military action is done.

The NPA encourages the people to submit their complaints and observations about the notorious military units. No tactical offensive of the NPA can be successful without the support and participation of the people. Together, the NPA and the masses of the people can overcome any enemy defense or offensive maneuver. Let us intensify the people�s war in jointly fighting for national liberation, democracy and peace!

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