The overwhelming force deployed in Barangay Llavac, Real, Quezon on December 2 for a focused military operation resulted in a misencounter between two 202nd IBde units. Already demoralized and fatigued from relentless sweeps in the forests and mountains, the 202nd IBde soldiers even ended up engaging their own fellow soldiers.

In utter embarassmet, the military falsely reported that they encountered a New People’s Army (NPA)-Quezon unit. The people’s army reportedly confirmed that their units did not engage any soldiers on that day.

“The 202nd IBde unit in Real continues to deceive the public to justify their continuous and futile operations in the area,” NPA-North Quezon spokesperson Ka Eliza Dela Guerra stated. She added that having done this before in 2023, the 202nd IBDe’s lies are no longer new to Quezon residents.

Soldiers have also been continuously deceiving residents of Barangay Lagpan and Poblacion Uno by spreading stories of Red fighters sightings near their camp. They even created a scandal when activating CCTV cameras in the area to supposedly determine the direction of the alleged NPA members.

Nearly a month of operations in Real, Quezon, and its neighboring towns has left the residents in a state of terror and anxiety. Cases of human rights violations such as illegal searches, harassment, threats, red-tagging, and others have been documented during this time. The community cries: Military, get out!

Ka Eliza urged to continuously expose the ongoing militarization and the lies being spread by the AFP. “More importantly, the residents of Real must expose and resist the presence of the military in their area, which foments human rights violations,” she added.