A New People’s Army (NPA)-Mindoro (Lucio de Guzman Command) unit repelled 203rd IBde and the 2nd CMO Battalion troopers’ attack on its temporary camp in Sitio Badyang, Barangay San Roque, Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro on October 1. The people’s army returned fire in an organized manner that disrupted enemy formation and forced them to retreat.

Following the failure, the 203rd Bde and the 1st “Exemplars” Company, 2nd CMO Battalion denied the encounter. They denied that the clash between their troops and the people’s army was a legitimate encounter.

Residents and Mindoreños mocked the military’s statement on Facebook. “The soldiers say no one dies on their side. They even hide the truth because they claim to be the law,” one commented. He added, “When it’s time for battle and their men die, they don’t admit it. But when an NPA dies, they make endless posts, they’re all pests.”

NPA-Mindoro spokesperson Ka Madaay Gasic said the military denied the battle to conceal its unjust large-scale combat operations amid the suffering of the people who were just devastated by a recent typhoon.

Since August, the 203rd IBde has suffered continuous losses and damage against NPA-Mindoro units’ active defenses against their attacks. “The army ensures constant vigilance against incoming enemies, seizes initiative in battle, and guarantees damage to the enemy,” Ka Madaay said.

Facing the intensified offensives and combat operations of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) against the revolutionary movement in Mindoro, Ka Madaay urged all units of the people’s army on the island to strengthen further to fight the enemy. “To achieve this, we must be more alert and vigilant of the enemy’s dark plans to crush the revolutionary movement this 2025,” he stated.

He emphasized the need to continue training amid fierce warfare, and to keep arousing, organizing, and mobilizing the masses for the people’s war, while encouraging the best sons and daughters of the nation to join the NPA. “Finally, we must launch every possible tactical offensive that will strike at the head and body of the enemy,” Ka Madaay said.