Last July 18, 2019, 2:30 in the afternoon, a unit of the Mount Cansermon Command of the New People’s Army ambushed four intelligence personnel of the 704th Regional Mobile Force Batallion (RMFB), troops of the Philippine National Police Regional Office 7 (PNP-PRO7), at Sitio Yamot, Barangay Mabato, Ayungon, Negros Oriental.

True to its nature, the RMFB and other fascist troops of Duterte retaliated with more human rights violations. Victoriano “Oto” Anadon was captured and brought to the RMFB detachment at Mabingka, Ayungon, Negros Oriental. Until now Anadon is under duress in the hands of the RMFB and is used by the PNP to publicize lies such as “he was apparently told by the NPA to tie up the intelligence personnel” and “they were mercilessly shot-to-death” in order to cover up the PNP’s accountability to the people.

The RMFB spreads further terror by ransacking the homes near the ambush site and forcibly summoning the residents to their detachment.

The people have long been demanding for the NPA’s military actions against state agents after they became butchers in the bloody and merciless Oplan Sauron 1 and 2 and the following killings and illegal arrests in Negros Oriental and Occidental.

In fact, the objective of PNP’s intelligence operatives in going to Ayungon was to implement intelligence surveillance by posing as employees of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. This was certainly a preparation for another wave of attacks against the people especially farmers similar to Oplan Sauron.

What occurred only proves that the PNP and even the Philippine Army are not concerned for their own men. After they were made as bait by their superiors for their anti-people operations ala Sauron, not one from the PNP and AFP responded to the incident and Barangay Tanods were charged instead to proceed to the area. The death of their troops was exploited by the PNP/AFP to blame the acts of terrorism in the countrysides on the NPA that is in contrary to the truth that the PNP and AFP themselves are the perpetrators of the massacres and other devastation against the people. This will also be used by the PNP/AFP as pretext for heightening militarization in the mountainous areas of Negros Island.

The Apolinario Gatmaitan Command calls on all PNP and AFP forces to end their silence on the anti-people measures of your ranks. Do not trade your aim to serve and protect the people with blind obedience to the orders of your officials and the tyrannical desire of Duterte.###