CPP/NPA-Mindoro: 4IB killed civilian, not NPA, in a ‘misencounter’ in Mindoro

NPA propaganda statement posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines Website (May 23):
4IB killed civilian, not NPA, in a ‘misencounter’ in Mindoro

Ka Madaay Gasic, Spokesperson
NPA-Mindoro (Lucio De Guzman Command)

23 May 2017

The New People’s Army-Mindoro (Lucio De Guzman Command) and the revolutionary movement in Mindoro island strongly condemn the recent atrocity committed by elements of 4th Infantry Battalion-Philippine Army.

Mario Versosa, 35-40 years old, was killed by 4IBPA troops during a misencounter in Sityo If-if, Barangay Cambunang, Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro on May 21.

Versosa is a police asset and a resident of Barangay Purnaga, Magsaysay, Occidental Mindoro, which is located at the southernmost part of the province and adjacent to Bulalacao town. Residents there believe that Versosa visited a relative residing in the town.

Soldiers are quick to release their media stunt to announce victory over a supposed firefight with the NPA.

Soldiers must be desperate after an NPA unit operating in Southern Mindoro successfully attacked a new military detachment being set in the area, afternoon on May 20. Residents there suspect that the camp is intended to secure a coal mining expected to operate in their village.

The NPA team immediately left the area on the same day after their successful operation. Soldiers reportedly conducted security patrol around the camp at 5 a.m. on May 21 and accidentally fired on Versosa resulting to the latter’s death. Soldiers planted a pistol and a hand grenade on Versosa and tagged him a rebel to justify the misencounter as a legitimate operation against the NPA.

The revolutionary movement in Mindoro laments with Versosa’s bereaved family. NPA-Mindoro is up in arms to launch a punitive action against the army troops who committed this vile act. This is an atrocity in the highest magnitude the revolutionary movement can never condone.

https://www.philippinerevolution.info/statements/20170523-4ib-killed-civilian-not-npa-in-a-misencounter-in-mindoro