The Communist Party of the Philippines paid tribute to the murdered spokesperson of the New People’s Army (NPA)-Negros Ka Juanito Magbanua (Romeo Nanta). Ka Juanito devoted 25 years of his life to the Filipino people’s aspiration for national and social liberation.

The military killed Ka Juanito while in custody in violation of international humanitarian law. He was arrested on October 10 pm in Sitio Medel, Barangay Carabalan, Himamaylan City and possibly tortured. Ka Juanito was in the community due to some ailments. There is no truth to military’s claim that an encounter took place.

As the NPA spokesman in Negros, and one of the leading cadres on party in the island, he tirelessly upheld the interests of the sugarcane farm workers and peasant masses in the island’s haciendas. He effectively represented the NPA and the Party in his many media interviews.