The 62nd IB soldiers were shaken at their detachment in Barangay Sikatuna, Isabela, Negros Occidental on June 12 when the New People’s Army (NPA)-Central Negros (Leonardo Panaligan Command) launched a harassment operation. Red fighters fired at the detachment around 7:50 p.m. while the encamped soldiers were resting.

One fascist soldier was killed and another was wounded in the armed action. The 62nd IB concealed this out of embarrassment, since the people’s army carried it out in the middle of intense military operations in Central Negros.

Soldiers encamped at the detachment committed heaping violations against residents’ human rights. Their crimes include harassment, physical abuse, and forcing peasants to surrender.

NPA-Central Negros spokesperson Ka JB Regalado said the armed action succeeded because of the full support of revolutionary organizations in the area.

“This shows the unity of the Red army with the Negrense people who remain chained to the exploitative system prevailing on the island,” NPA-Negros Island spokesperson said Ka Maoche Legislador. He added that the Red army will continue its efforts to break this chain by destroying the armed mercenary of greedy landlords and comprador bourgeoisie.

Barangay Sikatuna

Barangay Sikatuna was among the first barangays in the town of Isabela declared “insurgency-free” under the Marcos regime in 2022. It was among those flooded with funds from the Support to Barangay Development Program of the National Task Force-Elcac, a source of corruption for the agency and military officials.

The NTF-Elcac reported that water systems, a daycare center, and “solar electrification” projects were built in the barangay. Private institutions also provided various so-called “development” projects, pushed by the military in an attempt to deceive residents.

To receive projects and be declared “insurgency-free,” the barangay was long subjected to Community Support Program (CSP) operations of the 62nd IB. These operations are riddled with cases of human rights violations and violations of international humanitarian law.

The entire Negros Occidental was categorized under the Stable Internal Peace and Security (SIPS) on March 25, 2024. The 3rd ID also declared in May that all NPA units on Negros Island had been “dismantled.” Successive armed actions of the people’s army in recent months belied this.