#DiMasaligan79IB continues to bank on their fake encounters to support their claim that there are only seven “remnants” of the NPA left in Northern Negros. Just recently, they staged yet another drama in Barangay Minautok, Calatrava, Negros Occidental. This resulted crossfire among them where one of their troops were wounded and civilians were illegally detained around the “encounter” perimeter including minors and children.
This move indicates frustration as the reactionary army had no real damage to the NPA in the previous year. While they plan out such “engagements” to catch their quotas and for propaganda’s sake, the people’s army was able to recover strength and deepen unity with the masses through anti-feudal campaigns.
It is also in the character of the fascist troops to subject mass leaders to harrassments, threats, and even killings when they are unable to score after their prolonged military operations. Simultaneous with the April 6 fake encounter, Jailove Patatag from Sitio Narseri, Barangay Lalong, was abducted in Barangay Minapasok, of the said town.
Masses distrust and openly question the #DiMasaligan79IB’s presence in communities for they only bring unrest and criminal activities. That is why their pretense of “community outreach” and “livelihood projects” to legitimize militarization and deny increased anti-insurgency campaign can only be taken as a jest. Their anti-communist rallies in several barangays to declare the revolutionary mass organizations as persona non grata are bad imitation of people’s expression of their democratic rights. It is an open secret that people would participate in such activities in exchange of a few cans of sardines and a kilo of rice.
In many areas, even in those where there is focused military operations, the masses still actively seek help from the NPA for they know that it is only through armed struggle that their economic and political problems can be resolved. This only proves that even amidst threats, killings, and manipulation, the masses deeply entrenched in crisis cannot be fooled on who their real enemy is.
No matter how the reactionary troops downplay the current resurgence of revolutionary strength, they cannot deny that the people’s support in every aspect of warfare for the NPA is unwavering.
