The New People’s Army (NPA) refuted the claims of the 7th ID of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) having encountered the people’s army this morning in Barangay Abuyo, Alfonso Castañeda, Nueva Vizcaya. The NPA’s report said AFP helicopters did not engage in an encounter but bombed and strafed civilian communities.

Two attack helicopters fired successively and bombed eight or more times. The soldiers also used drones.

The NPA said the AFP did this to justify the militarization and massive combat operations it is about to carry out in said town and neighboring towns in the province of Aurora.

This will allow for the faster implementation of devastating state projects including the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO), the construction of a military industrial hub, and the plunder of the Benham Rise’s natural resources in province of Aurora.

The NPA-Aurora statement expressed its certainty that “the AFP will again claim this as part of their NPA pursuit operations and a response to “civilians reporting.”