Red fighters belonging to the New People’s Army Narciso Antazo Aramil Command (NAAC-NPA-Rizal) attacked government troops belonging to the 59th and 16th Infantry Battalions, Philippine Army in Barangay (village) Calawis, Antipolo City last 3 and 7 March 2014, that resulted to eight government troops wounded.

A squad of the NAAC-NPA forces harassed the detachment of 59th Infantry Battalion in Sitio Apya, Barangay Calawis, Antipolo City, early morning of 3 March 2014. A government soldier named Bong Manuva was wounded in this attack.

Another Squad of the NAAC-NPA forces attacked members of 16th Infantry Battalion conducting military operations under the guise of “community organizing for peace and development” (COPD) in Barangay Calawis, Antipolo City, at 7:00 pm. Seven government troops were wounded in this attack. This attack forced members of COPD teams to withdraw haphazardly. The residents in the area commented happily that the government soldiers retreated with their tails between their legs, too afraid to be hit by NPA fire. In both attacks, the NPA forces retreated with no casualties on their side.

These tactical offensives were launched in response to the peoples cries to to give justice to the victims of military abuses and human rights violations. Members of 59th and 16th Infantry Battalions troops wantonly harass, threaten and maim farmers, settlers and Dumagat tribesmen whom they always suspect as supporters of the revolutionary movement.

Thousand of government soldiers conducting military operations in the province with their intelligence units launching massive intelligence gathering operations failed to detect the attacking NPA units. This only shows that their much-vaunted pronouncement that their counter-insurgency OPLAN BAYANIHAN is winning the hearts and mind of the people is proven to be a much-vaunted lie. The people knows who their real army is, which is none other than the New People’s Army and not Philippine government troops whom they hate much. The NPA-Rizal members thrive on the support of the people in the province of Rizal.

The increasing capacity of the NPA-Rizal to conduct tactical offensives is an additional proof that OPLAN BAYANIHAN is a complete failure in the province of Rizal. It is an additional testament that General Bautista of AFP is eating his own words when he declared that he will make the NPA forces an insignificant force under his reign in the AFP. Instead of becoming insignificant, the NPA forces will vigorously advance in the struggle to end the semi-colonial and semi-feudal system now ruled by the US-Aquino Regime. Together with the Filipino people, the revolutionary movement will continue the advance the people’s war from strategic defensive to the next higher stage until victory.

Long live the Filipino People!
Long live the New People’s Army!