CPP-NPA claims victory over Oplan Bayanihan

From the Sun Star-Bacolod (Feb 26): CPP-NPA claims victory over Oplan Bayanihan

THE Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) claimed victory over Oplan Bayanihan of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in Negros citing increase in their strength by forty percent since the start of said campaign until the early part of 2013.

In a press statement, spokesman of the Leonardo Panaligan Command LPC of the NPA in Central Negros claimed that their mass base also grew from 35 to 40 percent.
In reaction, Col. Oscar Lactao of the 303rd Brigade commander said that "as our society continues to develop socially, politically and economically, their irrelevance is irreversible."

It said that since December 2012 until the first part of January 2013 it was proven that Oplan Bayanihan failed in Central Negros citing that with the support of the masses the LPC-NPA claimed victories in their military offensives.

Regalado said that the NPA confiscated 12 high-powered firearms, four M16, one M203 grenade launcher, one carbine, one sub-machine gun, one shotgun, one caliber 38 pistol, one 357 pistol and a .45 caliber pistol.

Other items they confiscated included one handheld radio, goggles and three cellular phones.

Regalado said that in their military offensives, four soldiers were killed, one policeman, one military asset, two village chiefs and three BPAT members.

As far as the Barangay Puso massacre is concern, Regalado accused 302rd Brigade commander Col. Francisco Patrimonio, 303rd Brigade commander Col. Oscar Lactao and NOPPO acting director Sr. Supt. Celestino Guara of allegedly mobilizing the social democrats as well as the fascists-clergy in allegedly calling for the NPA to surrender those behind the ambush massacre that left nine dead and 14 others injured.

Regalado also called on the civilians not to allow them to be used as human shields by the military at the same time not to ride in vehicles being used by the military and the police.

Earlier, the military here claimed that no amount of justification can redeem what the NPA rebels did in the La Castellana massacre.

Major Gen. Jose Mabanta, 3rd ID commander, said the La Castellana massacre was a big blunder on the part of the NPA as most of the casualties were civilians.

Practically all the human rights groups here except the militant Karapatan condemned the La Castellana massacre saying that it was a total disregard for human rights by the NPA rebels, Mabanta said.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/bacolod/local-news/2013/02/26/cpp-npa-claims-victory-over-oplan-bayanihan-270138