The National Democratic Front (NDF)-Negros confirmed in a statement that the two individuals killed by state forces in Negros Occidental during the first week of March were its office’ civilian staff. The police and military abduction and deliberate killing of the victims is a serious violation of human rights and international humanitarian law, it said.

On March 7, at 8 pm, Philippine National Police (PNP) Crime Investigation and Detection Group operatives and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) personnel abducted Nonoy Ponteras (Ka Jojo) and Marisa Pobresa (Ka Kim) from a house in Bacolod City. They were forcibly loaded into a van and taken to an undisclosed location, where they were ultimately killed.

“Marcos’ butchers brought the remains of the two to Sityo Paraiso, Barangay Caduhaan, Cadiz City. On the next day, the military spokesperson disseminated lies that the two were killed in an encounter between the 79th IB and the New People’s Army (NPA) at past 1 am,” NDF-Negros spokesperson Ka Bayani Obrero said.

The NPA-Negros Island (Apolinario Gatmaitan Command) had earlier refuted the allegation of an encounter a few days after the alleged incident, saying no unit of the Red army was in the area at those times.

“The 303rd IBde and 79th IB statement saying that they killed two high-ranking NPA officials is a lie and deception to the public,” NPA-Negros Island spokesperson Maoche Legislador. He emphasized that the military officials only wanted to collect the bounty on Ponteras’ head.

According to NDF-Negros, Ka Jojo, 48 years old, was a leading of NDF-Negros official while Ka Kim, 23, was an NDF regional office administrator. They added the duties of the two included consulting with workers, farmers, farm workers, and various poor and oppressed sectors on the island to help give voice to their grievances and advance their struggles.

“The treacherous killing of Ka Jojo and Ka Kim is part of the US-Marcos regime’s ongoing bloody and brutal campaign of suppression on Negros island as well as nationwide,” asserted Ka Bayani.

It added that instead of engaging the NDFP in peace talks to remedy the root of the armed conflict in the country, the Marcos regime chooses to unleash its fascist mad dogs in the countryside and cities to terrorize the people.

Finally, NDF-Negros reminded the US-Marcos regime that no matter how brutal, the fascism of the state will fail to crush the revolutionary movement. “As long as the problems of poverty, hunger, oppression and exploitation remain unsolved, the people will rise up and take the path of armed struggle,” Ka Bayani said.

“The seeds of revolution sown in fertile soil in the countryside and cities will continue to flourish and spread throughout the country. Many more Ka Jojo and Ka Kim will emerge,” Ka Bayani honored the two.