Ka Juanito Magbanua, spokesperson of the Apolinario Gatmaitan Command – New People’s Army (AGC-NPA) in Negros Island strongly condemned the arrest of four civilians this week for allegedly being NPA members.

Police Regional Office-7 Director Albert Ignatius Ferro announced earlier the capture of Jelly Anadon Ebedo, Gellie Ebedo and their father, Belly Ebedo, residents of Sitio Yamot, Barangay Mabato, Ayungon, Negros Oriental, claiming that the three were suspected NPA members who killed four intelligence operatives of the PNP Mobile Force Battalion 7 in 2019.

Meanwhile, a certain James Casusi Abrasaldo of Barangay Lamogong, Manjuyod, Negros Oriental was also arrested last February 23 for allegedly being an NPA member involved in an encounter with the 94th Infantry Battalion at Sitio Cabangahan, Barangay Bantolinao, Manjuyod last October 3, 2019.

“They are mere farmers and contractual workers in the cities,” Magbanua asserted.

According to him, militarization and a “no man’s land” declaration are what the people of Sitio Yamot is facing under the combined forces of the PNP and AFP.

“If we recall, since the implementation of MO 32, the people have experienced alarming terror brought by successive and massive military operations, intimidation, planting of evidences, forced surrenders, fake warrants and arbitrary arrests in farm communities,” he said.

Magbanua added that innocent civilians are targeted because of the desperation of Duterte and the AFP/PNP in their all-out war in the Island to destroy the revolutionary movement.

He stated in his statement that the continuing attacks of the AFP/PNP against the people is the design of the Task Forces to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC).

“The Duterte government’s efforts to solve the people’s armed resistance in the whole country reeks of heightened corruption, crimes and inutility,” he said.

Magbanua further noted that the P7 million bounty for alleged 30 suspects of the death of four policemen in Ayungon is an example of [the AFP/PNP’s] aim to whitewash their humiliation and failure.

“In truth, the reactionary armed forces cannot chase the expanding and strengthening NPA force in Negros island and the entire country.###