The New People’s Army (NPA) ambushed soldiers from the 24th IB in Mount Basiwag, Barangay Gacab, Malibcong, Abra province last October 27. Two troopers were killed while another was wounded.

The ambush is a punishment of the said unit for its fascist attacks and suppression of the people’s opposition to extensive mining operations in Abra and Apayao. The soldiers serve as guards of the operations of large mining companies.

Extensive mining operations will encompass the ancestral lands of the indigenous peoples in the towns of Malibcong, Lacub, Tineg, Licuan-Baay, and the borders of Abra in Apayao and Kalinga. It includes some parts of the Gran Cordillera Mountain Range.

Accompanying planned mining operations are focused military operations with the aim of suppressing and breaking the unity of the indigenous people against destructive mining.

“The people will get nothing from large-scale mining and militarization other than intensified grabbing of their ancestral land,” according to the NPA-Abra.

Aside from the armed action last October 27, the NPA also reported mounting tactical offensives on June 30, July 9 and August 18 in Abra and Apayao. Five fascist mercenaries were killed in these armed actions.