The Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) honored and paid tribute to Reynalde Erecre (Comrade Amek), Central Committee member and Party Regional Committee secretary in Negros Island. The Central Committee hailed him as “a valiant communist and hero of the working class and the Filipino people.”

Erecre was martyred on January 30 when the 94th IB captured and willfully killed him in Sitio Apitong, Barangay Bi-ao, Binalbagan, Negros Occidental. Soldiers tracked him down at 4 p.m. Earlier, at 2 a.m., they attacked the New People’s Army (NPA) unit that included Erecre in the same sitio.

The 94th IB arrested and deliberately executed Erecre instead of recognizing him a prisoner of war under the laws of war, or even under the reactionary laws. The soldiers used excessive ammunition, mutilating his face beyond recognition.

The Central Committee said imperialists, comprador big bourgeoisie and big landlords are feasting over the remains of Erecre because he was a long-time thorn in the side of the reactionary classes. “Conversely, the entire people mourns his death, as heavy as Mount Kanlaon weighing on the heart, especially by the workers, the peasant masses, farm workers, and all toiling masses who suffer the worst forms of exploitation and oppression,” it said.

The leadership added, “The blood shed by Ka Amek further nourished the soil of the revolution, from which new sons and daughters of the people will emerge to continue the unfinished revolution.” It said Party cadres in Negros Island are fully ready to take up the tasks and responsibilities Erecre left behind.

Meanwhile, the Party and the entire revolutionary movement extended deepest condolences to Erecre’s wife, children, and siblings.

Life and history of awakening

Erecre was born in the town of Maco, Davao de Oro (formerly Compostela Valley) in 1974 from the lower ranks of the petty bourgeoisie. He took up a BS Education course at the University of Mindanao in Tagum City. He worked for five years as a contractual worker in a plywood factory to support his studies.

In his youth, Erecre was able to visit a camp of the New People’s Army. Because he personally experienced poverty and oppression, he quickly understood and embraced the revolutionary cause. He became a full-time fighter in the NPA in 1996 and became a member of the Party in 1997.

He was elected as a member of the Party Front Committee at a 1999 conference. He was designated second platoon leader of the NPA center of gravity unit in the area. Erecre became part of the NPA partisan unit in Cebu and Bohol. He was also among those who led the daring raid on the PNP headquarters in Bohol in June 1999 where more than 80 firearms were seized.

He was elected as a Party Regional Committee member in Central Visayas in a 2002 conference. He was assigned two years later as political instructor in a newly formed platoon in Southeast Negros and in the same year was appointed Executive Committee member of the Central Visayas Regional Committee.

In 2013, Erecre became platoon leader of the newly established regional center of gravity under the Regional Party Committee in Negros Island, and three years later he was appointed its company commander. He was assigned as regional commander of the NPA in Negros Island (Apolinario Gatmaitan Command) in 2019. Under his leadership, the people’s army on the island carried out more vigorous tactical offensives and armed actions.

Erecre assumed the post of secretary of the Party Regional Committee in Negros Island in 2023. Erecre played a major role in applying the lessons of the rectification movement on the island. He consolidated the Regional Committee by leading its leading cadres in criticism and self-criticism. He was appointed Party Central Committee member in 2025.

NPA–Negros Island’ pledge

Over a week after the NPA–Negros Island military cadre and political commissar Erecre was martyred, the regional command declared that the fascist US-Marcos regime is mistaken in thinking it can crush the revolutionary movement on the island.

“So long as the fundamental problems of imperialism, feudalism, and bureaucrat capitalism persist, many Negrosanons will wage revolutionary struggle to its completion and to total victory,” NPA–Negros Island spokesperson Ka Maoche Legislador said.

Meanwhile, the NPA also honored Joem Golez, who was martyred in the 94th IB attack that morning. He was the NPA regional command medical staff. He came from the class of poor peasants and was a resident of Barangay Quintin Remo, Moises Padilla. He joined the people’s army in 2016.