The Roselyn Jean Pelle Command of New People’s Army (RJPC-NPA) responded to the people’s clamor in Don Salvador Benedicto to warn and disarm elements of the paramilitary SCAA or Special CAFGU Active Auxilliary supervised by their ringleaders with ties to the bandit RPA.

The operation was carried out on March 21, 2019, 5:20 in the morning at Sityo Mayana, Brgy. Bago, Don Salvador Benedicto. During the actual incident, the group did not heed the NPA team’s summons that the people’s army intends only to seize their firearms. The group fought it out with NPA using their firearms, prompting the operatives to defend themselves. RPA/ SCAA members Lucio and Domingo Agravante were hit and killed in the process. The RJPC-NPA is wholly responsible for the incident and civilians should not be incriminated by authorities.

The NPA confiscated 3 calibre .357 revolvers, a calibre .38 revolver, and a calibre .45 pistol, bullets and 2 cellphone units from the RPA/SCAA group.

This particular RPA/SCAA group in DSB is facing charges of espionage for surveilling the movement of the NPA as assets of the AFP based in the military detachment in Brgy. Marcelo, Calatrava; theft and landgrabbing depriving tumandok folk of the land they till, harvesting other farmers’ crops for their own, and destruction of the locals’ crops. This RPA/SCAA group has been commiting these crimes since 2014 that even leaders of the local barangay unit of the reactionary government have received complaints against them from the people.

This group is actively supervised by the RPA in Balasyang, Bagonbon led by Natan Bayog-ang Bagonbon along with Meliton and Oding Boli-Boli who have links and are supported by the DSB Vice-Mayor Nehemias Dela Cruz Jr.

It is not true that operatives of the RJPC-NPA seized P70,000 in cash as alleged by a certain“Roldan” who is also a member of the RPA. NPA operatives observe strict discipline and we account for everything we seize in operations. This RPA/SCAA group, however, are thieves who feed on stolen crops from the people. The people have long been compaining against their thievery and threats in the area, promting the NPA to caution them. They did not heed this and became even more active instead emboldened by the support of rotten, counter-revolutionary political dynasty of the Dela Cruz clan in DSB.

In adherence to International Humanitarian Law o IHL, the RJPC-NPA did not violate anything in bringing the RPA/SCAA to answer to revolutionary justice. The NPA followed the process in implementing the operation and enganging the said group. They did not cooperate with the disarming and arrest, resulting in casualties within their group.

As notice to the public, and to counter-revolutionary and criminal elements who let themselves be used by rotten politicians, or as mercenaries of big landlords and commiting crimes against the people: the RJPC-NPA expresses its resolve to decisively carry out revolutionary justice. The RJPC calls on those accused of crimes against the people to cooperate and truthfully communicate with the NPA to resolve the complaints lodged against them.