New People’s Army (NPA)-Mindoro (Lucio de Guzman Command) initially reported that six 76th Infantry Battalion (IB) soldiers were killed in two clashes last November 5 in Barangay Villa Pag-asa, Bansud, Oriental Mindoro. Red fighters won a tactical victory against the operating soldiers.

Following their defeat, the 76th IB announced going on pursuit operations against the NPA-Mindoro unit. Projecting to have the upper hand, they even ostentatiously called on the Red fighters to surrender and offered help.

The 76th IB and 1st Civil-Military Operations Company has subjected the clash site’s barangay and neighboring communities to militarization under the veil of conducting “stress debriefing.” This has caused extreme fear among the residents and citizens of Bansud, as the 76th IB is notorious for its crimes and human rights abuses.

The notorious unit was involved in the killing of Barangay Captain Dante Yumanaw of Barangay Ligaya, Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro on July 15, 2022. It was also implicated in the arrest and deliberate killing of Red fighters Jethro Isaac Ferrer (Ka Pascual) and Peter Rivera (Ka Rochie) on November 13, 2023, in Barangay Buong Lupa, Gloria, Oriental Mindoro.