NDF-Negros and its allied revolutionary organizations express the firmest Red salute to the 7 martyrs of Panay island namely Benjamin Cortel (Ka Mamang/Ruby), Jose Jerry Takaisan (Ka Miller), Romulo Ituriaga Gangoso (Ka Pedik/Regan), Armando Rogelio Sabares (Ka Nene/Kulot), Aurelio “Boy” Bosque (Ka Rio/Zarko/Baijan), Jovelyn Silverio (Ka Akay/Purang), Jielmor Gauranoc (Ka Tango/Doc), after successive encounters against combined troops of the 12th, 61st, 82nd IB, CAFGU along with RPSB-PNP elements. Red fighters valiantly faced the focused military operations (FMOs) of the AFP and remained steadfast and resolute to their commitment to offer even their lives for the just cause of the armed revolution.

The various backgrounds of comrades hailing from the peasantry, working class and youth proves the correctness of the revolutionary class line. The exploited classes and sectors of society deem the armed struggle as the sole solution against the tyrannical ruling system and its bloody trail. The deaths of comrades will serve as seeds that will spurt even more revolutionaries hailing from the cities and the countryside willing to lay their life to attain genuine social change and a just and lasting peace.

Akin to Negros Island, Panay has been targeted by the military’s relentless attacks in the desperate attempt to declare Western Visayas as insurgency-free and of a Stable Internal Peace and Security (SIPS) status. However, the US-Marcos II regime’s warmongering methods prove to be futile against the long-standing socioeconomic crisis. Spreading terror and impunity will only strengthen the revolutionary consciousness of the masses to resist exploitation and oppression.

As we mourn the losses of Party cadres and Red fighters, NDF-Negros also demands an immediate investigation regarding the possible International Humanitarian Law violations. According to the martyrs’ kin, the bodies of Red fighters had bruises and broken limbs evident to torture committed by terrorist troops of the AFP. It is no longer a surprise that these bloodthirsty butchers commit extreme crimes to hapless hors de combat to pursue the illusion of dismantling guerilla fronts despite their obvious failure.

This coincides with the NSC’s recent statement of opposing the resumption of NDFP-GRP peace talks unless the revolutionary movement concedes the armed struggle. This downright stupid argument only solidifies the terrorist and fascist character of the state, phrasemongering for peace but in reality promoting war as toadies of imperialism, feudalism, and bureaucrat capitalism. Their incessant bloody war crimes only justify further the historical necessity and inevitability of the National Democratic Revolution.

Thus, NDF-Negros calls on its allied organizations, along with human rights and peace defenders, to remain vigilant and condemn the lies and continued onslaught of military operations by the AFP/PNP/NTF-Elcac combine that aims to spin the truth and poison the masses with false promises to facilitate the entry of foreign and local businesses to exploit our labor and natural resources. By now it is obvious that these FMOs and Retooled Community Support Programs (RCSPs) in Negros and Panay island alike are synonymous to human rights violations and reactionary state terrorism.

We should staunchly campaign for a just and lasting peace amid the rising inter-imperialist conflict that will undoubtedly worsen the semi-colonial and semi-feudal status quo. Only the path of the revolution remains to be the hope of the peasants, workers, youth, intellegentsia, and patriotic countrymen so we can break free from the chains of imperialist hegemony.