Even as we await for an official statement from the New People’s Army in Abra regarding the tactical offensive last Thursday, based on local news reports, we affirm that the ambush against armed soldiers of the 24th Infantry Battalion in Malibcong town is a legitimate act of war.

The AFP unit was fully armed and conducting combat operations. Judging by the fact that the soldiers were within the are of operations of a local unit of the NPA, the AFP unit was clearly involved in counterinsurgency. Claims by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) that the soldiers were “on their way” to disaster response are pure hogwash with the intent of fooling the people and generating sympathy.

The 24th IB has a record of grave human rights violations against the people of Abra. There have been cases of illegal arrests and torture against civilians in the conduct of their counterinsurgency operations.