The Rachelle Mae Palang Command-New People’s Army (RMPC-NPA) dismissed the 302nd Infantry Brigade’s recent claim that the NPA no longer ‘poses a threat to the conduct of the midterm elections,’ citing recent encounters as basis.

According to its spokesperson, Estrella Banagbanag, the NPA ‘continues to operate in five, not three, guerrilla fronts in the region, which includes the Southeast Guerilla Front.’ She also added, Brig. Gen. Joey Escanillas, 302nd IBde Commander, is like ‘a dog wagging its tail to its US imperialist master, eager to lie about dismantling the revolution in exchange for favors and kickbacks.’

“These claims have long been disproved by the NPA in Negros Oriental. Escanillas and the entire Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)’s false bravado stems from the countless human rights violations they have committed, enforcing civilians to surrender as NPAs or supporters, staging fake encounters, and maximizing the handful of traitors to the revolution they protect for now while they still have purpose, only to throw them away afterwards like trash,” Banagbanag stressed.

The rebel spokesperson also mentioned that the NPA ‘does not disturb the reactionary electoral process, and that while it recognizes that it is flawed, corrupt, and illegitimate, it is also the very process that allows the people to realize that the genuine solution is revolution, and not predetermined bogus elections.’

Banagbanag further noted that the NPA ‘does not commit extortion, and only exercises its status of belligerency to issue permits to campaign in revolutionary base areas, as a method to ensure that the masses are not threatened or harmed by reactionary traditional politicians, unlike the AFP who have the fall to pretend to be non-partisan when obviously they are now divided as well due to the intensifying Marcos-Duterte conflict, alongside the threat of inter-imperialist war.’

“It is precisely because of the situation already said above that the revolution is undefeatable. So long as there is oppression and exploitation, especially as the socioeconomic crisis worsens and the gap between the rich and poor broadens day by day, more and more will be drawn to take up arms and dismantle the ruling system. Revolution is both necessary and justified,” Banagbanag ended.