New People’s Army (NPA) units launched five armed actions in Negros and Samar islands in recent weeks. These included targeting military intelligence assets and operating police troops.

In Negros Occidental, a firefight with an NPA-Northern Negros (Roselyn Jean Pelle Command) team killed Police Senior Master Sergeant Rommel Aguilar. A 9mm pistol and ammunition were seized from him. The NPA encountered the group of police officers in Purok 5, Barangay Lagaan in Calatrava on December 7. The Red fighters were then withdrawing from a military action against military intelligence asset Mando Ugdiman in Sitio Tagda, Barangay Dolis. Confiscated from Ugdiman were a .45 pistol, ammunition, and other military equipment.

On December 13, an NPA-Southwest Negros (Armando Sumayang Jr Command) operation killed intelligence asset Amay Jimenez in Sitio Makilo, Barangay Camansi, Kabankalan City in. Jimenez was involved in pinpointing the location and planning the assassination in November 2022 of his brother, peasant leader Joseph Jimenez, and National Democratic Front of the Philippines peace consultant Ericson Acosta. Another intelligence asset was punished in Sipalay City on December 4.

Exemplary defense

In Samar, two soldiers of the Intelligence Service of the AFP (ISAFP) and the Military Intelligence Battalion (MIB) under the 8th ID were killed in an armed encounter with the NPA-Western Samar (Arnulfo Ortiz Command) in Barangay Babaclayon, San Jose de Buan. The battle occurred around 1:32 a.m. on December 3.

The NPA reported that two of its fighters were in the community to consult with the masses plagued by militarization. Not fewer than 20 military troops had been operating in the said community for three days as of that day.

Military intelligence operatives surrounded the house hosting the fighters forcing them to surrender. In response, the Red fighters ensured the safety of the civilians and safely escorted the entire family out of the house. A Red fighter fired at the soldiers, catching them off guard. The Red fighter dropped prone to the ground in front of the enemy forces while firing his pistol. Two fascist troops were killed in the close-range battle. To escape, the two Red fighters jumped out of the house while the enemies were shooting. One of the fighters was wounded.