A New People’s Army (NPA)-Quezon (Apolonio Mendoza Command) unit inflicted damage on the Philippine Army troopers operating in Barangay Mabini, Lopez, Quezon on April 6 at 10:00 a.m. The NPA-Quezon confirmed at least three Philippine Army soldiers died.

Ka Cleo del Mundo said no Red fighters were harmed. The unit conducts active defense amid hundreds of military troopers deployed for focused military operations (FMO) in the towns of Quezon.

The unit added that the soldiers continued firing indiscriminately for over an hour after the battle.

As the Regional Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines in Southern Tagalog stated during the anniversary of the NPA, “the NPA demonstrated its high determination and capability to conduct active defense in unavoidable battles.” According to the committee, out of six battles that occurred in the first quarter of 2025 in the region, five were conducted in active defense, while one was turned into a tactical offensive.

The 201st IBde has continuously conducted FMO for over three months, covering the towns of Lopez, Macalelon, Gumaca, Catanauan, and General Luna. Military operations in remote parts of Quezon were also reported.

Supporting the 85th IB in combat operations in South Quezon-Bondoc Peninsula are the 81st IB and 16th IB, which were deployed to the area despite military and local government declarations that Quezon was “insurgency-free” as early as June 2023.

Meanwhile, farmer residents reported that the Philippine Army arrested charcoal producers for “investigation.” Additional information is still being gathered regarding the condition of the victims.