A year after the death of the Panay August Martyrs, composed of 11 Red fighters of the New People’s Army (NPA)-Panay (Coronacion Waling-Waling Chiva Command) and Party cadres and leaders, the National Democratic Front (NDF)-Panay revealed the true events in its latest report: that the soldiers captured, tortured, and willfully killed 10 martyrs, in violation of international humanitarian law (IHL).

NDF-Panay made the report in May after the team that had been separated for over nine months was able to connect with the main regional force. The team belonged to the Regional Headquarters Unit (RHQU), which then provided security for the regional Party leadership where the August Martyrs of Panay were based.

The team reported that they were detached from the RHQU to gather supplies when the fascist military attacked. Their main observation of sparse gunfire exchange contradicted Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) reports which claimed intense and consecutive firefights happened in August 2024.

NDF-Panay finalized their analysis from reports and information gathered about the series of events, which indicated that only a single decisive battle occurred between soldiers and the NPA-Panay on August 5, 2024, in Barangay Aglonok, Calinog, Iloilo.

Benjamin Cortel (Ka Amor) fell in this battle. Possibly nine others were captured, including Vicente Hinojales (Ka Hadjie), Concha Araneta-Bocala (Ka Minay), Rewilmar Torrato (Ka Minerva), Romulo Iturriaga Gangoso (Ka Reagan), Aurelio Bosque (Ka Zarco), Jose Jerry Tacaisan (Ka Miller), Juvylene Silverio (Ka Porang), Armando Sabares (Ka Kamlon), and Jielmor Gauranoc (Ka Tanggo). NDF-Panay reached this analysis because survivors said many had lost their physical ability to fight.

After the August 5, 2024 battle, AFP reported additional consecutive fake battles on August 7, August 8, and August 15 of the same year. These battles supposedly happened in Barangay Aglonok, Calinog, and Barangay Cabatangan, Lambunao.

NDF-Panay emphasized that these encounters were highly improbable due to the distances of these places (3-5 kilometers by air) from the site of the first encounter. “The fascist military’s claimed battle sites lie too far away from our comrades’ camp and impossible for them to reach given their weak physical condition,” the group stated.

Furthermore, the military claimed that John Paul Capio (Ka Ronron) died in an encounter in Barangay Culyat, Valderrama in Antique on August 24, 2024. NDF-Panay said Ka Ronron survived the August 5, 2024 headquarters battle, captured by the military while traveling on a highway in Bugasong, Antique, and later willfully killed.

During the fake consecutive encounters, the military cunningly conducted aerial strafing and bombings to create the illusion of real battles.

“The murder of hors de combat and prisoners of war became standard policy or order under Rodrigo Duterte’s regime and was vigorously enforced by AFP/NTF-Elcac, continuing under Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s administration,” NDF-Panay stated.

In response, the group holds accountable for their war crimes the AFP 3rd ID and 301st Brigade, Philippine Army troopers and officials, especially 3rd ID Commander Maj. Gen. Marion Sison, 301st IBde Commander Brig. Gen. Michael Samson, 12th IB Commander Lt. Col. Vicel Jan Garsuta, 82nd IB Commander Lt. Col. Clifford Catubigan, and 61st IB Commander Lt. Col. Arturo Balgos as primarily and directly accountable for willfully killing hors de combat NPA members.

Meanwhile, NDF-Panay urged families and relatives of the August Martyrs of Panay to file cases in appropriate courts to hold those involved accountable. They also called on human rights groups to conduct independent investigations to further expose information surrounding the massacre.

In connection with the one-year anniversary of the August Martyrs of Panay’s deaths, the Party’s Regional Committee in Panay called for a tribute this August. The committee designated August 26 as the Day of the Martyrs of Panay.