Read in: Hiligaynon

The Communist Party of the Philippines Komiteng Rehiyon-Panay condemns in strongest terms the treacherous murder of Reynaldo Bocala and his aide Willie Epago on the evening of May 28, 2021 at Balabag, Pavia, Iloilo. Combined reactionary elements of the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-6 (PNP CIDG-6) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) raided their rented house and killed the two elderly who are both unarmed. They were murdered without a pang of humanity by the same fascist forces who are responsible for the planting of evidence and massacre of 9 Tumandok farmers in Tapaz, Capiz last year.

We give highest honor and salute to the martyrdom of Ka Minoy/Ka Poling/Ka Bading/Ka Hans who have spent most part of his life in serving the poor peasants and the national democratic revolution in Panay. We convey our profound grief and most sincere condolences to the families, relatives and friends of the two beloved comrades.

Comrade Reynaldo Bocala, 75, is under medical care for ailments brought by his age, in Iloilo City. While Willie Epago, 60, helps in attending to the medical needs of the former. Because of their medical conditions, they were observing pandemic isolation measures during the murder.

The murder of comrades Reynaldo and Willie is a complete violation and disregard of the International Humanitarian Law (Geneva Conventions) and the Comprehensive Agreement on Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) both signed by the GRP and NDFP.

We reject the narratives of the mendacious and criminal police and military that the two comrades resisted arrest and engaged in a gunfight. The PNP CIDG-6 and the AFP fabricate lies and planted firearms to justify their murder of Bocala and Epago who are both incapable of defending themselves.

Apparently, their murder is a continuation of the spate of government-sponsored terrorism in Panay region and the whole country amid the pandemic. Even if cities and provinces in the region face soaring Covid19 cases, failing medical services, unemployment and hunger, the Duterte regime chose to spend much of its resources in maligning, attacking and killing activists, human rights defenders, and unarmed revolutionaries. The murder shows the political bankruptcy of the fascist regime and thirst for blood of its mercenary armed forces.

The people of Panay must break the string of state-sponsored terrorism by resolutely advancing their democratic aspirations and interest in all forms and venues necessary. They must seek justice for the victims of extra-judicial killings, red-tagging, assaults and intimidations by continuously exposing and fighting Duterte’s terror law and its NIF-ELCAC. Hold the fascist state forces accountable for their crimes against the people. It is best for the people to join the growing armed struggle in the countryside to effectively counter and defeat the regime’s reign of terror.

Duterte’s atrocious campaign to suppress the steadfast revolutionary movement in Panay will surely expire in vain and frustration. The martyrdom of comrade Reynaldo Bocala and other revolutionary martyrs will continue to embolden the revolutionary militancy in Panay.