NPA: Soldiers killed in ComVal were about to lead combat operations

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – The New People’s Army (NPA) has dismissed the military’s claim that it violated the holiday ceasefire when rebels ambushed and killed three government troops – including a junior officer on Dec. 29.

Daniel Ibarra, an NPA spokesperson, said in an emailed statement that contrary to the military’s statement, 1st Lt. Ronald Bautista and the two soldiers killed in the ambush in Mabini, Compostela Valley, were not on Christmas break.

Earlier, Lt. Vergel Lacambra, the spokesperson of the Compostela Valley-based 10th Infantry Division, said the attack “was a blatant contradiction to the rebels’ claim of pursuing peace.”

Lacambra said Bautista and his two companions were on their way home and were unarmed when shot dead in Barangay (the village of) Candinuyan on Dec. 29.

But Ibarra said to the contrary, Bautista was leading some 80 government troops under the 71st Infantry Battalion during a military operation in the villages of Palali, Mascareg and Linaw and Darot.

“Contrary to the lies and deceit of 10th ID chief, Maj. Gen. Eduardo Año, Bautista and the two other soldiers killed in the December 29 ambush were not preparing for holiday break but were geared towards full combat operations,” he said.

Ibarra said Bautista was armed with a handgun and a grenade.

“The December 29 ambush was clearly not in violation of any truce but a form of revolutionary justice to frustrate the (operation) and human rights abuses of a fascist Army unit which was also responsible for the cold-blooded murder of child peasant Roque Antivo in 2013,” Ibarra said.

He said the ambush was “a legitimate politico-military action by the masses that have long suffered and borne the brunt of fascism and economic dislocation as a result of foreign large-scale mining.”

Ibarra also vowed more actions against the military and other legitimate targets.