Elemnents of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) again carried out bombings and strafing in Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija on July 4. The AFP claims that this attack was part of an encounter with the New People’s Army (NPA) in the mountainous part of Barangay Cambitala.

The NPA-Central Luzon said there is no truth to the alleged AFP encounter. Instread, it endangered the lives of two civilians who were in the area at the time, it said.

“It was not the NPA that they fired at but two civilians,” the unit said. This is against international humanitarian law.

The NPA-Central Luzon condemned the AFP for its non-stop terror attacks on communities in Pantabangan.

“Their bombing and strafing are unbridled despite affecting many innocent lives and workplaces. The reactionary government’s armed forces are true butchers and mercenaries,” the NPA-Central Luzon added.

Amid the AFP’s intensified combat operation, the NPA-Central Luzon assured that “our army remains safe and advancing due to the strong support of the masses.”