A small armed unit of Roselyn Jean Pelle Command – Northern Negros Guerilla Front of the New People’s Army (RJPC-NPA) came in armed contact with 79IB’s Bravo Company of the AFP on April 6, 2023 at around 3:47 PM in Sitio Serahe, Barangay San Isidro, Toboso, Negros Occidental resulting in at least three (3) enemy killed-in-action (KIA) and several more wounded-in-action (WIA). NPA fighters safely withdrew from the encounter site after two (2) minutes of armed exchange, with no casualties or even slight injuries.

NPA’s counter-offensive action was a result of AFP’s massive military campaign in northern Negros. Despite observance of Holy Week, 79IB deployed at least three (3) columns in Sitio Serahe alone putting the NPA unit nearby in active defense posture. The said NPA unit tried to evade an armed clash but a golden opportunity arose from 79IB’s deployment of troops.

To cover up AFP’s defeat, 79IB spewed lies on the recent armed clash:
1. #DiMasaligan79IB said that they were conducting operations after civilians reported NPA presence in the area. Should that be true, the operating enemy troops should be on full alert. Actual armed combat happened when 79IB was at rest and caught off guard by the NPA unit positioned less than 100 meters away.

2. #DiMasaligan79IB stated to have recovered home-made shotguns and ammunitions from the encounter site. Previous NPA actions in the area reported to have recovered empty shells of high-powered automatic rifles. In that armed encounter alone, 79IB should expose the shells used to determine NPA armory.

3. #DiMasaligan79IB exposed that their only casualty was one (1) slightly wounded who is now in stable condition. With a slight wound, enemy troops could have brought the casualty to nearest healthcare facility, be it in Toboso Health Center, Calatrava District Hospital, Sagay District Hospital and not to Bacolod City for immediate medical care. That lie alone is an outright downplaying of the sacrifice made by their own troops.

4. #DiMasaligan79IB announced that NPA has three (3) WIA. With alleged blood stains in withdrawal route as only evidence, enemy troops immediately publicized the exact number of NPA casualties. How come they haven’t figured out scores of NPA casualty in other areas? It’s a laughable AFP act to have always seen blood stains when in reality they have not inflicted casualty to Red fighters.

Lt. Col. J-jay Javinez of 79IB, BGen. Orlando Edralin of 303Bde and the AFP in general, unmask its dire desperation to crush the NPA in northern Negros that they spread laughingstocks claims.

With the latest experience of NPA’s counter-offensive action, RJPC-NPA is optimistic on the course of armed revolution in northern Negros. It is ever more determined to stir and spread the flames of armed revolution. #