Drug-crazed soldiers from the 2nd IB shot to death brothers Ronel, 22, and Robert Monsanto, 18, in Sityo Laray, Barangay Aguho, Esperanza, Masbate on July 8. The brothers were herding their livestock when the military unit passed by and shot them in coldblood.

The soldiers took the remains of the brothers to Barangay San Roque and made it appear that they were Red fighters killed in an armed encounter. They displayed the remains and placed weapons and war materiel next to the dead bodies.

The New People’s Army (NPA)-Masbate (Jose Raping Command) statement clarified that there was no encounter in said barangay. “Marcos and the 2nd IB have deprived the young farmers and the Monsanto brothers of their future,” Ka Luz del Mar, spokesperson of the unit, said.

Ka Luz also conveyed the condolences of the people’s army to the victim’s relatives and expressed their support for the family in their fight for justice.

“Like Ronel and Robert, many other young people are at risk of being denied a future under the ongoing military rule in the province,” Ka Luz said. He further emphasized that behind the shows of sports events, ROTC, leadership training and other schemes for the military to deceive the youth, the soldiers’ true character emerges.

The spokesperson added, “with the killing [of the two], it becomes more clear for their fellow Masbatenyo youth that it is right and necessary [to join the people’s army for justice.]”