New People’s Army (NPA)-Mindoro (Lucio de Guzman Command) Red fighters fired at and harrassed 4th IB soldiers stationed in its military camp in Sityo Sigao, Barangay Lisap, Bongabong, Oriental Mindoro on May 20, at 9 a.m. Soldiers have been encamped in the site and have been implementing martial law since 2022.

“This is a response to the long-standing call of the people, especially the Buhid residents, to punish fascist soldiers for sowing terror and give justice to those whose human rights they violated,” said Ka Madaay Gasic, spokesperson of the island’s people’s army.

The 4th IB has been subjecting residents of Sityo Sigao and neighboring areas in Bongabong to relentless abuse for two years. Reported cases include forced and fake surrender, abuse and rape of women, encampment in the middle of communities and repeated violence against Buhid residents. The people here still remember the FA50 bombing, shelling and strafing last February 2022.

Barangay Lisap is one of the areas declared a priority by the National Task Force (NTF-Elcac) in the Mindoro island since 2019. The Retooled Community Support Program (RCSP) was implemented in Sityo Rimas, adjacent to Sityo Sigao from August 2020 and throughout the year of 2021.

“This offensive is a call and challenge to all units under NPA-Mindoro to launch tactical offensives against the 203rd Brigade and PNP-MIMAROPA, the pillar of the reactionary state’s fascism in Mindoro,” Ka Madaay said.

He says it is more than justified to advance the armed struggle amid the intensifying dirty counter-insurgency war of the US-Marcos II regime and its armed forces.