The Communist Party of the Philippines, the New People’s Army (NPA), and the entire revolutionary movement and masses in the island of Panay saluted and gave recognition to the seven Red fighters who were martyred in a series of defensive actions on August 5 to 8. Encounters took place in Barangay Cabatangan, Lambunao and Barangay Aglonok, Calinog in Iloilo.

The fallen Red fighters came from different generations of workers, farmers and students. The martyrs were identified as Benjamin Cortel (Mamang/Ruby) who fell in Barangay Aglonok on August 5, Jose Jerry Takaisan (Miller) who was martyred in Barangay Cabatangan on August 7 and Romulo Ituriaga Gangoso (Pedik/Regan), Armando Rogelio Sabares (Nene/Kulot), Aurelio “Boy” Bosque (Rio/Zarko/Baijan), Jovelyn Silverio (Akay/Purang), and Jielmor Gauranoc (Tango/Doc) who fell in Barangay Aglonok on August 8.

“The emotional pain, cry for justice and rage at their brutal killing cannot be hidden and contained,” the NPA-Central Panay (Jose Percival Estocada Jr. Command) said.

Successive battles took place amid intensified and brutal combat operations by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) at the borders of Janiuay, Lambunao and Calinog in Iloilo, Valderama in Antique and Libacao in Aklan. These areas have long been subjected to a focused military operation saturated by hoards of CAFGU, police, and military forces of the 12th IB, 82nd IB, 61st IB and DRC under the 3rd ID.

“Despite this, the martyrs valiantly faced the enemy and firmly embraced the revolutionary stance of aiming their weapons until their last breath,” said the NPA-Central Panay. The unit added that the fall of their fighters is a spark in the continuous burning and advancement of the revolutionary armed struggle for national liberation and true freedom.

The unit stressed that until the roots of suffering and slavery under the oppressive and exploitative system run by the ruling classes are addressed, their fight will continue to live on. “The toiling masses will continue to walk the path of armed struggle,” the NPA-Central Panay said.

Possible IHL violations

The relatives of the martyred Red fighters expressed their concern over the possible violation of human rights and international humanitarian law (IHL) in the deaths of the seven martyrs. In a statement by the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan)-Panay and Panay Alliance Karapatan, the families said that there were unusual marks on the bodies of the martyred Red fighters.

“The families observed a range of wounds, including large and small punctures in the chest, fractured arms, and extensive bruising from head to toe. These injuries strongly suggest that the victims endured severe pain and torture before their deaths,” the statement said.

The group also condemned the military for harassing and deliberate delaying the handing over of the bodies of the victims to the families. The soldiers even forced them to sign documents stating that they would not press charges, and even visited them in their houses.

“Bayan Panay firmly believes that the military is attempting to conceal the truth about the encounter. We view these actions as a calculated effort to control the families’ responses and suppress any potential legal repercussions,” the group said.

The CPP and NPA pledge justice for the martyrs. “We hold Marcos himself and the AFP officials accountable” Ka Marco Valbuena, the Party’s chief information officer, said. The CPP said there are already 68 hors de combat who were deliberately killed by the Marcos regime.

“The Party is determined to obtain justice for all victims and pledges to ensure that Marcos and his fascist cohorts are held accountable for their war crimes either before the people’s courts or the appropriate international tribunals,” Valbuena’s statement added.