NPA: Tactical offensives staged to obtain justice

From the Visayan Daily Star (Jan 25, 2019): NPA: Tactical offensives staged to obtain justice

The New People’s Army Apolinario Gatmaitan Command yesterday said that their successive tactical offensives launched this month, were in answer to the demand for justice of Negrenses due to the series of extra-judicial killings, illegal arrests and detention, and human rights violations perpetrated by government forces.

The rebel group claimed to have killed 27 government troopers in their tactical offensives and punished a mining firm by burning its heavy equipment, with damage estimated at P120 million, especially in central Negros. But that was dismissed as very cheap propaganda by Col. Benedict Arevalo, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander.

This was also their response to the call of the Communist Party of the Philippines “to mount tactical offensives across the country” and “exert all possible effort to punish AFP officers who have committed grave crimes against the people,” the Apolinario Gatmaitan Command (AGC) said in a press statement.

On January 2, the NPA Mt. Cansermon Command punished Pilipinas Eco-Friendly Mining Corp. allegedly for its harmful open-pit mining operations in Ayungon, Negros Oriental, by destroying eight backhoes, four payloaders and dump trucks, two generator sets and a rock crusher.

The AGC said that this was followed by simultaneous attacks against two detachments in Barangay Linantuyan, Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental and Barangay Sikatuna, Isabela, Negros Occidental on Jan 6.

The rebel group also claimed responsibility for the killing of CAFGU member Joseph Gabia, also in Brgy. Linantuyan, Guihulngan City, harassment of a military outpost in Brgy. Hilamonan, Kabankalan City, launching of sniping operations in Brgy. Banwage, and twin attacks against Army soldiers, all in Guihulngan City.

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2019/January/25/topstory5.htm