A soldier of the 62nd IB was killed last October 12 in a sniping operation by a New People’s Army unit under the Leonardo Panaligan Command (LPC-BHB)-Central Negros. The military action was carried out around 3:40 in the afternoon at Sitio Mapun-as, Barangay Guba, Vallehermoso, Negros Oriental.

The enemy unit is part of the battalion-strong (200-300) operation in the boundaries of the mountainous parts of Canlaon, Guihulngan and Vallehermoso towns.

Said soldiers are operating in Sitio Malatanglad and Natuling in Barangay Budlasan, Canlaon City; in Sitio Panagtugas and Banderahan in Barangay Trinidad and Barangay Calupa-A in Guihulngan City; in Sitio Binakayan, Barangay Tabon, Vallehermoso. They were seen in the area on October 12.

The military began to lay siege on the areas on October 10 after a 30-man unit of 62nd IB surrounded and ransacked Plesing Menosa’s home on the pretext of searching for NPA Red fighters. The children and members of the Menosa family were severely traumatized.

LPC-NPA-Central Negros spokesperson Ka JB Regalado said the NPA’s military action aims to give justice to the victims of state terrorism in Negros island. Ka JB specifically referred to the treacherous killing of Ka Juanito Magbanua (Romeo Nante), spokesperson of the Apolonio Gatmaitan Command of the NPA-Negros Island.

Magbanua was killed by the 94th IB on orders of the 303rd IBde-Philippine Army officers on October 10, 2022 in Sitio Medel, Barangay Carabalan, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental. This was despite the fact that he was hors de combat due to his hypertension and severe rheumatism.

In this regard, LPC-BHB Central Negros ordered all its units to launch widespread tactical offensives against the fascist troops of the 3rd ID and 303rd IBde. This order shall be carried out as units of the NPA comprehensively implement tasks of establishing and strenghtening mase base, agrarian revolution and the advancing the armed struggle to a higher level.