The Leonardo Panaligan Command-New People’s Army (LPC-NPA) earnestly congratulates the victorious counter-offensive of one of its units against overeager and butcher troops of the 62nd Infantry Battalion (IB) who were assembling to mount a raid on a NPA camp in Sitio Cupad, Brgy. Macagahay, Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental last June 13, 9:00 in the morning.

Three soldiers of the 62nd IB were killed as two grenades were hurled at the raucous soldiers crammed at the lower portion of the encounter site. The NPA retreated in an organized manner and, a few minutes later, the said unit encountered one of the blocking forces of the fascist troops. Another gunfight ensued and the NPA unit immediately broke out of the military columns surrounding the encounter site. The military suffered more casualties as their troops fell from their own crossfire. The retreating NPA unit witnessed and heard the continuing exchange of intense gunfire directed below them where another column of the military pursuing them was located. The 62nd IB purposely denied their casualties from the said encounter.

It is not true that the NPA sustained two casualties among its ranks. The NPA retreated with ease while gunshots from the military could still be heard until 10:30 in the morning.

The LPC-NPA strongly condemns the 62nd IB for killing two farmers, Benjie Ebarle of Sitio Bungaw, Brgy. Trinidad, Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental and Roweno Anubong of Sitio Agogolo, Brgy. Macagahay, Moises Padilla. Both farmers were victims of the 62nd IB soldiers’ indiscriminate firing during the encounter.

The LPC-NPA denounces as well the illegal arrest of Aldren Valbueno, a 20-year old construction worker, of Sitio Manta-uyan, Brgy. Macagahay, Moises Padilla by the desperate 62nd IB. Valbueno just came home from his work when he was illegally arrested by the military last June 16. A .45 cal. pistol and military pack was planted on him to justify the arrest. He was forced by the fascist military to admit that he is a NPA member.

The military’s relentless human rights violations in the said area and rampant fake news peddling only reeks of desperation and exposes the fascist character of the AFP. The 62nd IB only wants to obscure their defeat and blunders in combatting the NPA in Central Negros.

While the economic and political crisis of a semicolonial and semifeudal system in the country worsens intensely as genuine agrarian reform and national industrialization is held back, violations of human rights will also persist which kills democracy and freedom; the struggle of the broad masses will continue to thrive as well. The NPA keeps growing in numbers and in strength from the toiling and oppressed people who will take up arms in order to advance the national democratic revolution and defeat imperialism, bureaucrat capitalism, and feudalism including the violent machineries of the reactionary state.

Severely punish the butcher 62nd IB for their crimes against the people of Central Negros! Advance the people’s war to victory!###