A 203rd IBde soldier died at the New People’s Army (NPA)-Mindoro (Lucio De Guzman Command) active defense against attacking soldiers in Barangay Mangangan II, Baco, Oriental Mindoro. The battle took place at 5:45 a.m. on August 9.

The NPA unit fired first against the larger force of attacking soldiers conducting focused and sustained military operation (FSMO) across Oriental Mindoro for the past two months.

“The NPA-Mindoro not only repelled the continuous FSMO but also actively defended and inflicted damage on the attacking fascist soldiers,” NPA-Mindoro spokesperson Ka Madaay Gasic said.

He added that the battle in Baco and in various parts of the Philippines during recent weeks once again disproves the lies of Ferdinand Marcos Jr and his military officials that “no guerrilla groups remain” in the country. “Even in Mindoro, the 203rd Bde’s claim that Mindoro is insurgency-free is far from the truth,” Ka Madaay said.

Baco ranks among the poorest towns in Oriental Mindoro, where widespread lack of and absence of land, unemployment, and severe social services inadequacy exist. Ka Madaay stated that these conditions clearly explain why the revolution remains alive and continues, especially the armed struggle in towns like Baco.

Ka Madaay called on the oppressed people of Mindoro to join the New People’s Army to continuously strengthen the people’s armed forces and achieve justice, genuine freedom, and democracy in our country.