Red fighters of the New People’s Army (NPA)-Albay (Santos Binamera Commmand) ambushed a 16-man unit of the 49th IB in Barangay Bagacay, Jovellar, Albay last October 3.

Seven soldiers were killed in the said ambush. Four were confirmed killed-in-action. The following day, a cadaver was found on the location of the incident while two others who were severely wounded eventually died. All Red fighters were able to safely withdraw.

According to the NPA-Bicol, the ambush was in response to the clamor of the people of Albay to punish the fascist units of the enemy operating in the province. Since 2016, 20 Albayanos were killed by the AFP-PNP in the different modus operandi including “killed while resisting” and fake encounters.

NPA-Bicol spokesperson Ka Raymundo Buenfuerza said, “Despite [the enemey’s focused military operations], the victories achieved by the Red army serves as an example.”

“All units of the NPA in Albay and the entire region continue to raise their capacity in guerilla warfare and in staging offensive actions against the enemy butchers,” Ka Raymundo added. Since September, the NPA-Albay has mounted three tactical offensives where nine soldiers were killed and many others were wounded. “This contributes to the people’s fight for justice for the hundreds of victims of human rights violations and hundreds of thousands who experience poverty and hunger everyday in Albay,” Ka Raymundo said.

The ambushed enemy unit is part of the 11 companies of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) combat forces now operating in the province. In addition, there are no less than 20 CAFGU detatchments in the whole province.

The Philippine Air Force Tactical Operations Group 5, 4th Naval Station, Naval Task Force 41 — NAVFORSOL of the Philippine Navy at PNP Region V central command are also based in Albay.