The Friends of the Filipino People in Struggle (FFPS) honored and paid tribute to the seven Red fighters of the New People’s Army (NPA)-Negros Island who were martyred in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) overkill operation on the morning of April 27 in Barangay Tapi, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental.

The seven, dubbed the Kabankalan 7, were martyred while fulfilling the noble duty of continuously advancing the armed struggle, expanding the mass base, and carrying out the agrarian revolution on the island.

The martyrs were identified as Reniel Locsin Cellon (Ka Randy), Mary Jane Magquilat (Ka Shonie), Charity Amacan (Ka Mayang), Johnrey Mejares (Ka Jai), Glenda Tinio Mejares (Ka Glendyl), Ka Pitong, and Dee Supelanas (Ka Dahlia). Supelanas was a former student leader of UP-Cebu. Three of them were senior citizens and had medical conditions that limited their mobility but they continued to serve the people’s army.

According to Robert Reid, chairperson of FFPS, the courage and selfless sacrifice of the Kabankalan 7 for the liberation of the Filipino people solidifies their heroism. “[They inspire] the Filipino people to further intensify their revolutionary struggle and us anti-imperialists worldwide to further deepening our solidarity with the struggle of the Filipino fighting masses,” he said.

Reid condemned the Marcos regime and the AFP boast in the killing of the Kabankalan 7. “This ‘victory’ for the ruling class will be short lived, as the lives of service to the people lived by the Kabankalan 7 carry far greater weight,” Reid said.

He said that the martyrdom of the Kabankalan 7 will further push more comrades, friends, and ordinary people to take up arms and join the NPA. “Their mourning and anger will forge revolutionary determination,” he added.

The FFPS is a global organization supporting the NDFP, which the group recognizes as the genuine representative of the Filipino people. The group also supports the 12-point program of the NDFP for a progressive and prosperous Philippines. It has member organizations from North America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania.