Amid the Christmas season, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) soldiers deployed in Barangay Paguihaman, Uson, Masbate shot and killed two teenagers who were on their way home from a party in the said barangay. Eighteen-year-old Redyan, a resident of neighboring Barangay Mongahay, and 14-year-old JP, a resident of Barangay Mabini, died instantly. Both were shot in the head.

The soldiers themselves admitted to killing the two. They claimed they thought the two were New People’s Army (NPA) armed fighters.

The two teenagers were reportedly on their way home from a Christmas party at 3 a.m. on December 27 when soldiers encamped in the barangay saw and shot them.

NPA-Masbate spokesperson Ka Luz del Mar condemned the fascist soldiers for killing the two teenagers. The soldiers did not investigate nor ascertain whether the two victims were armed or civilians.

She said that this clearly shows the AFP’s terrorism and violence in communities as basis for the residents’ demand for their expulsion. “We should stand firm against the military’s threats and intimidation in their attempt to prevent exposing their crimes. We should pursue justice for all their victims,” Ka Luz added.

The Marcos regime’s AFP soldiers have killed minors before in Masbate. It can be recalled that on June 16, 2023, the 2nd IB killed 17-year-old Rey Belan when he and his fellow youth companions were fired at in Barangay Calabad, Dimasalang. The victims were hunting at the time when soldiers spotted them. The military claimed that he was an NPA “child warrior” killed in an encounter.

Amid relentless military violence, Ka Luz called on the Masbateño masses to “revisit the history of our struggle and draw lessons from it to revitalize our determination to fight against the fascist and bloodthirsty state armed forces … until we achieve true justice and peace in our beloved province.”

The NPA-Masbate commiserates with the families of Redyan and JP.