The RMPC today issued the following statement to rebutt the lies and fake news circulated by military propagandists, and to present the actual facts on what transpired in Sitio Balaskan, Barangay Napacao, Siaton last February 14, 2021.

The PR of 11th IB posted in its Facebook account the day after and the subsequent news articles that appeared based on military sources prated about an “armed encounter”, “NPA weapons, gadgets etc captured” and other overused template lines.

1. NO ARMED ENCOUNTER (EXCHANGE OF GUNFIRE OR GUN BATTLE BETWEEN 11TH IB AND RMPC- NPA THAT TOOK PLACE THAT DAY.

The reported 15-minute battle is simply rubbish and a work in fiction of military PR writers.

What happened was a shooting spree by trigger-happy soldiers on a small farm hut situated along Canaway River bank and a hot spring (“supli” as locals called it) on the basis of mere suspicion that said place had been frequented by NPAs.

At dawn of February 14, a platoon soldiers positioned in the elevated portion facing the hut. Then few minutes after sunrise they opened fire without any warning or provocation peppering it with bullets and severely damaging the utensils and other belongings. Fortunately, nobody was inside the hut at that time.

The residents of Balaskan could not helped by notice the absence of return fire.

The soldiers continued firing at their imaginary enemies squandering ammunition at taxpayers’ expense.

This spectacle was repeated four times before dusk ostensibly in order to pursue the “fleeing” NPAs they had engaged earlier.

2. THE M-16 RIFLE AND .45 PISTOL AT FACE VALUE ARE DILAPIDATED AND LIKELY TAKEN FROM AN AFP ARMORY.

It’s reminiscent of “nanlaban” tokhang victims planted with recycled rusty revolvers.

The laptop and smart phones were stolen by soldiers from the temporarily abandoned houses at the height of the shooting spree.

These uncalled for, unjustifiable and dastardly acts must be investigated and its perpetrators be held accountable.

We call on the CHR, human rights organizations and the Church sector to conduct an impartial probe and help the residents of Balaskan traumatized by the incident.###