A series of defensive actions by the New People’s Army (NPA)–Southeast Negros (Rachelle Mae Palang Command) on February 15 killed five 11th IB soldiers. Three battles erupted in Barangay Santo Niño, Tanjay City, Negros Oriental after the 11th IB assaulted the area.

The unit reported that the first encounter broke out at 5:30 a.m., followed by two more at 6:30 and 7:00 a.m. The NPA unit safely withdrew after the successive battles. The unit had been investigating the peasant masses’ problems in the barangay.

“The Red fighters foiled the attack through counter-offensives and seizing the initiative,” NPA–Southeast Negros spokesperson Ka Estrella Banagbanag said. She added that this was a slap in the face of the 11th IB and the 302nd IBde, which have repeatedly claimed that Southeast Negros no longer had any guerrilla fronts.

The embarrassed 11th IB admitted to losing only one soldier and claimed that another was wounded. The slain soldier was identified as Cpl. Reynold Gardose, an Alpha Company squad leader.

The 302nd IBde’s commander Brig. Gen. James Jumawan also propagated statements covering up their defeat. He claimed that the 11th IB encountered a unit from a combined NPA force in Southwest and Southeast Negros trying to recover Negros Oriental’s southern part. He even claims that only four NPA members remain in central and southern Negros Oriental.

“As long as the peasant and working masses are exploited and oppressed, the toiling masses’ army will continue to forge its strength,” Banagbanag said. She stated that the people’s army remains steadfast in building Red political power amid relentless militarization in the countryside across the island.