‘Military lies’ on Bontoc NPA ambush

BEHIND THE SCENES
Alfred P. Dizon

(Ka Magno Udyaw, spokesperson of the Leonardo Pacsi Command- New People’s Army-Mountain Province sent this letter in response to alleged disinformation campaign of the military following the NPA’s ambush of an army unit in Bontoc, Mountain Province on July 9 wherein seven troopers were killed. This space is open to the military to comment on the issue.)

This is a reply to the many lies and slander spread by spokespersons of the 5th ID and its organic units against the revolutionary movement, especially after the victorious ambush staged by the Leonardo Pacsi Command against troops of the 52nd DRC last July 9 in Samoki, Bontoc, Mountain Province. It is clear that the 5th ID wants to demonize the revolutionary forces.

The LPC asserts that the dead soldiers have not been stripped of their clothing. LPC guerillas only took the weapons and other military equipment of the dead soldiers and did not take personal belongings such as clothing, wallets, and cellphones. The NPA strictly adheres to international laws governing armed conflicts, the Comprehensive Agreement on the Respect of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) signed by the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, and its own rules as a people’s army.

It is not true that the LPC desecrated the bodies of the dead soldiers, such as by firing point-blank into their heads. If any soldier was hit in the head, this happened during combat. In an ambush, fire is concentrated and the target is mobile, any part of the body can be hit.

On the other hand, it is the fascist troops of the AFP who repeatedly violate the rules of war and desecrate the bodies of dead NPA Red fighters. They tortured and mangled with bullets the bodies of Magno “Ka Braga” Ayabo and Sammy Rey “Ka Cholo” Cayago both of whom were wounded and captured in action in Tubo, Abra in 2005 and 2008 respectively.

Many innocent civilians in Mountain Province were tortured and killed by operating military troops. In 2001, they tortured and killed Johnny Camareg, a farmer from Betwagan, Sadanga. In 2003, they killed Etfew Chadyaas, a farmer from Belwang, Sadanga. In 2006, they killed Michael Uyad, a student from Agawa, Besao. The military shamelessly said their civilian victims were NPA commanders killed in action.

The people see that drunkenness, gambling, womanizing, and the use of prohibited drugs are the vices of fascist AFP troops. It is well-known that corruption is part of the rotten AFP structure. There is no basis for the military to maliciously link the NPA to these evil vices.

It is a rotten lie that the ambushed troops were on their way to coordinate a medical mission. It comes out now that they were on their way to Bontoc to push for the signing of a memorandum of agreement between the 5th ID and the provincial officials and PNP for the counter-insurgency program. The spokespersons of the 5th ID spread the story about the medical mission to get public sympathy. The 52nd DRC is a fighting unit, combat is their primary job.

The vilification of the revolutionary movement is part of Oplan Bantay Laya 2 which the AFP is implementing up to the present. They use all dirty tactics to try and win the hearts and minds of the people. But the lies, slander, and other dirty tactics of the AFP cannot fool all of the people, all of the time. The violent, arrogant, and evil character and deeds of the AFP are the basis of the people in choosing to join and support the growing revolutionary movement.