Red fighters of the New People’s Army-Central Negros (Leonardo Panaligan Command) attacked a seven-man team of the 62nd IB in Sitio Balingos, Barangay Hinakpan, Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, on the afternoon of July 1. One soldier was killed and three others were wounded. The NPA fighters were five meters away from the state forces when they launched the attack.

According to Ka JB Regalado, NPA-Central Negros spokesperson, the targeted 62nd IB unit was serving as a blocking force for dozens of other troops conducting an encirclement and suppression campaign against the NPA unit. The NPA unit was maneuvering out of the encirclement when they spotted the 7-man military unit.

“To cover up their embarrassment, the military deliberately hid their casualties in the clash from the public,” Regalado said. The unit added that the attack was a significant blow to the military, especially given the wide scope of its focused and sustained military operations (FSMO) in Central Negros.

The NPA-Central Negros attack took place after the 62nd IB troopers indiscriminately fired their weapons in Sitio Balingos at 5:40 a.m. that same day. The military allegedly did so out of panic and fear of an impending NPA attack.

Following the incident, the military ordered the residents of the sitio to stay inside their homes for the entire day. Farmers were also barred from working in their fields. The incident caused severe fear and trauma among the residents. This is violates their human rights and the international humanitarian law.

Under the FSMO in Central Negros, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has deployed the 62nd IB and 94th IB to the villages of Guihulngan City, La Libertad and Canlaon City in Negros Oriental, as well as Moises Padilla, Isabela and Binalbagan in Negros Occidental since June 16. These combat operations are part of the US-Marcos regime’s National Action Plan for Unity, Peace and Development (NAP-UPD) against the revolutionary movement.

According to the assessment of NPA-Central Negros, the fascist troops’ current tactic in the guerrilla front involves deploying numerous small units, a tactic developed by the US military. It’s objective is to track down, pursue and strike units of the people’s army.

In the face of the AFP military campaign, NPA-Central Negros ordered all units under its command to launch successful tactical offensives with the full support of the oppressed and exploited Negrosanon people. “Defend the rights and interests of the broad masses by creatively arousing, organizing and mobilizing them,” Regalado said.