The relentless and indiscriminate bombing conducted by the 203rd Infantry Brigade in Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro from 9:30 in the morning until 12:30 in the afternoon yesterday (January 1) is an act of extreme terrorism. This came after a failed treacherous New Year’s attack launched by the combined forces of the 1st and 76th Infantry Battalion (IB) and the 5th Scout Ranger Battalion of the 203rd Brigade, 2nd IDPA against a unit of the NPA around 6:30 yesterday morning at Sitio Mamara, Barangay Cabacao, Abra dse Ilog. This terrorist attack is the military turning their rage once again toward the civilian population of Abra de Ilog after their forces suffered casualties and out of desperation after failing to inflict damage on a New People’s Army unit. This is yet another display of the military’s lack of any concern for the Mindoreños who should have been peacefully and safely celebrating the new year.

One of the victims of the 203rd Brigade and 2nd IDPA’s attack and bombing is Jerlyn Rose Doydora, a youth from Manila, who suffered an attack of her illness which caused her death. Jerlyn belonged to a group of youth who went to Mindoro to conduct research, interview, and integrate with the indigenous people and farmers, and with the unit of the New People’s Army during the new year period.

The NDF-Mindoro processed their entry after they conveyed their desire to interview the indigenous people and farmers in Mindoro, as well as the Red fighters of the NPA, with the aim of learning the concrete conditions of the masses, the reasons for the armed conflict, and the true solution to achieve peace. They arrived in Abra De Ilog before the new year, assisted by the indigenous people and farmers in the area, and were received by the NPA unit.

They were caught in the treacherous attack made by the AFP-PNP yesterday at 6:30 in the morning, during the time the NPA was observing a ceasefire. The NPA unit which accomodated Jerlyn’s group was able to mount a defense. They were able to retreat safely to distance themselves from the midst of the relentless bombing and strafing by no less than four AFP attack helicopters. One youth was separated as the NPA unit was withdrawing from the area and is yet to be located. In the midst of the bombing and strafing, Jerlyn suffered an attack due to her illness that eventually led to her death.

We wish to convey our heartfelt condolences to the family, comrades, friends, and others loved ones left behind by Jerlyn. We are with you in your mourning. To ensure that Jerlyn’s family can recover her remains, the NPA unit decided to lay her body to rest in the area where she passed away.

NDF-Mindoro calls on all human rights advocates and civic groups to act and coordinate to assist Jerlyn’s family and push for the opening of a humanitarian corridor to retrieve her remains. Alongside this, the search to rescue the other youth who was separated during the withdrawal can be made.

We also call on all those who uphold human rights to help the people of Abra de Ilog, especially the indigenous people and farmers who are victims of the relentless bombing and shooting by the fascist forces of the AFP-PNP. We call on you to conduct a thorough investigation in the communities affected by the three-hour bombing and several hours of indiscriminate shooting, and push for concrete actions against the fascist criminals and to protect the victims and civilians.

AMIDST THE SEVERE SOCIAL CRISIS and widespread disgust at corruption and oppression of the masses, there are indeed many youths like Jerlyn who are studying, researching, and looking for genuine solutions to the problems of the Filipino people. Because the ruling system intentionally fails the youth, many of them, like Jerlyn, become awakened and are studying various solutions, including the revolutionary solution.

Beyond their studies, many of them decide to directly participate in advocating change. This is the history of the youth in the country and the whole world. It should not be a wonder, a surprise, or a cause for worry that the youth participate in the revolutionary armed struggle, especially now that the rottenness of the ruling system under the US-Marcos regime is fully exposed, and it becomes clearer with each passing day how the true and just change desired by the youth and other oppressed masses cannot be found in the anti-people laws and processes of the rotten government.

Jerlyn and other youths desired to see the true condition of the country and Mindoro. Her desire to enter the guerilla zones to study the intense exploitation and oppression of the farmers and indigenous people, and the continuing revolutionary resistance of the people of the island despite the onslaught of undeclared martial law here, is praiseworthy.

Jerlyn Rose Doydora is a martyr of the present generation of the youth searching for true change in a rotten and corrupt system. We should raise our fists in salute to her daringness and bravery to integrate with the masses and their Red army. Let us salute the life and struggle of Jerlyn which she fully dedicated to the people and their aspiration to be free from poverty. The youth should honor Jerlyn and challenge themselves to follow her footsteps toward the countryside where the armed revolution for the change advanced by the oppressed masses and desired by the youth can be found.

THE ENCOUNTER AND THE accompanying militarization is a signal of a more brutal counter-revolutionary war this year in Mindoro, which remains a focus of the war of suppression in the Southern Tagalog region. In fact, just this December 31, the 74th IB was reportedly transfered to the island of Mindoro from Samar. The desperation of the AFP to fulfill the delusional dream of the US-Marcos II regime to crush the revolutionary movement on the island, after repeatedly boasting that this would be accomplished before the end of 2025, is evident.

Despite the intensifying counter-revolutionary war in Mindoro, the US-Marcos II regime and its terrorist armed apparatus, the AFP-PNP-CAFGU on the island, will still end up in failure. They will fail because the Mindoreño masses continue to rely on and support the revolution. Now more than ever, the people are angry and aroused as their lives and livelihoods slide rapidly downward and while the rottenness of the US-Marcos II regime and the entire ruling system is continuously exposed. It is not just the awakened youth like Jerlyn who are looking for a genuine and just alternative to the current system. Thousands of farmers, workers, indigenous people, youth, women, and other oppressed classes and sectors are being organized and are acting now in line with the call and program for a people’s democratic revolution. Expect that as the crisis and turmoil under the US-Marcos II regime sharpen, the people’s revolutionary struggle will advance further.

While the injustice of the counter-revolutionary war dictates its eventual failure, all revolutionary forces on the island must seriously prepare to face the changing military situation and the certain worsening of state terrorism. They should persevere in continuously arousing, organizing, and mobilizing the greater number and broader ranks of Mindoreños for various struggles, including the anti-fascist struggle against state terrorism and the undeclared martial law here on the island. The relentless violation by the AFP-PNP-CAFGU of the human rights of the people of the island must be exposed and condemned, including the Cabacao bombing as the latest case and the very first this year.

Above all, the people’s war on the island must be intensified as it is the most effective form of anti-fascist resistance and defense of human rights. In the advancement of the people’s war, the oppressed masses will continue to be aroused and inspired to fight the terrorism of the US-Marcos II regime and advance the people’s democratic revolution to a higher level.

People of Mindoro, condemn, fight, and frustrate the undeclared martial law and state terrorism on the island of Mindoro!

Condemn the bombing by the terrorist 203rd Brigade against the people of Abra de Ilog!

Stop the military operations of the AFP-PNP and make way for the retrieval of the remains of Jerlyn Rose Doydora!

Bravely frustrate the worsening terrorism of the US-Marcos II regime on the island of Mindoro!

Advance the people’s war for genuine peace, justice, and change!

Advance the people’s democratic revolution!