The New People’s Amry (NPA)-Central Negros mounted three guerilla actions during the last half of March in response to the deployment of additional military forces in the island.

On March 20, the NPA fired at the 7th Regional Mobile Force Battalion’s detachment at Sitio Hinugpayan, Barangay Luz, Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental. Two police elements were wounded. The NPA also fired at the 62nd IB’s detachment in Barangay Sikatuna Proper, Isabela, Negros Occidental on the same day.

Meanwhile, the NPA captured two short firearms from a land-grabber and his armed goon at Sitio Manlama, Brgy Montilla, Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental on March 30.

Intensified militarization

The NPA-Negros criticized the task force created by Ferdinand Marcos Jr supposedly to “maintain peace and order” in the island. The regime used the murder of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo in March as pretext to deploy additional military forces. This will surely engender further terrorism and fear in the island.

The Marcos regime first ordered the creation of the task force on March 10 which was composed of two brigades and six battalions from the PNP and the AFP. The order was formalized after he signed the Administrative Order No. 6 on April 3.

A 50-element Light Reaction Company, a US-trained unit involved with terrorizing Marawi City, was deployed in the island. The 47th IB also arrived in Negros from Bohol in March.

Marcos’ order comes on top of the Duterte regime’s Memorandum No. 32 which resulted to gruesome crimes against the people of Negros.

This includes the massacre of peasants in what is called the Oplan Sauron 1 and 2 in 2018 and 2019.