CPP/Ang Bayan: NPA-SMR denies assassinating Navarro

Propaganda article from the English language edition of Ang Bayan posted to the CPP Website (Jun 7): NPA-SMR denies assassinating Navarro

Psywar experts of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spewed black propaganda once again when they accused the New People’s Army (NPA) of assassinating Mayor Reynaldo Navarro of Laak, Compostela Valley. Navarro was ambushed and killed by five motorcycle-riding gunmen in Asuncion, Davao del Norte on May 28.

The 10th ID’s objective in accusing the NPA of the crime is to enrage and recruit Navarro’s Lumad supporters as the military’s newest instruments and bandits in its Oplan Bayanihan counterrevolutionary campaign.

In a statement, Ka Rigoberto Sanchez, spokesperson of the Merardo Arce Command (NPA-Southern Mindanao Region) condemned Navarro’s killing and condoled with his family and friends. He said that the People’s Democratic Government had no basis to impose the maximum penalty of death on Navarro.

Sanchez explained that although Navarro was among the biggest loggers operating in the forests of Agusan del Sur, Compostela Vallet and Davao del Norte, he was not a legitimate military target.

As a veteran politician in an area encompassed by the territory of the People’s Democratic Government, Mayor Navarro linked up with the revolutionary movement. On many occasions, his actions showed his recognition of the revolution’s aspirations.

But in the past years, Navarro’s logging and agribusiness operations kept on expanding, prompting the revolutionary movement to send him warnings several times. Because he ignored them, the Comval-North Davao-South Agusan Subregional Command was compelled to go public with its warnings against his rampant logging activities and the attendant militarization which has led to violations of the people’s human rights.

Sanchez advised the masses in Laak, in particular, and in Mindanao, in general, to be vigilant and see through the military’s dirty tactics. Recently, the AFP also spread the lie that the NPA uses human shields.

 [Ang Bayan is the official news organ of the Communist Party of the Philippines and is issued by the CPP Central Committee. It provides news about the work of the Party as well as its analysis of and views on current issues. Ang Bayan comes out fortnightly and is published in Pilipino, Bisaya, Ilokano, Waray, Hiligaynon and English.]

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/publications/ang_bayan/20140607/npa-smr-denies-assassinating-navarro