Press Statement
December 5, 2010
The Armed Forces of the Philippines’s 10th Infantry Division-Eastern Mindanao Command is again guilty of spreading disinformation to deceive the public and save face regarding the November 30 incident in Barangay Paloc, Maragusan, Compostela Valley province.
Initial disinformation released by the 10th ID-EastMinCom black propaganda machinery led by its spokesman, Lt. Col. Medel Aguilar, state that New People’s Army suffered six casualties — with a news from the Davao City-based Bombo Radyo even coming up with names of the four.
There is no truth to these reports. The truth is, the 50-man column of the 5th Scout Ranger Company of the 2nd Scout Ranger Battalion-AFP suffered heavy casualties resulting from the ambush by a platoon of Red fighters under the Rhyme Petalcorin Command Front 27 Operations Command-NPA.
Verified reports culled from eyewitness’s accounts reveal that at least five enemies were killed-in-action and another 10 were wounded-in-action. Three command-detonated claymore mines were switched, directly hitting the enemy. In fact, combat clearing operations were ordered immediately by the enemy higher command to make way for the aerial extraction and medical evacuation of their casualties. One Red fighter, Ka Boogie, was the lone casualty, martyred in the cause of the People’s War.
The massive militarization and intensified combat operations by the 10th ID-EastMinCom in Compostela Valley province and elsewhere is an attack against the rights and interests of the people in the countryside. Despite the “peace and development outreach” smokescreen, the people can see through the fascist machinations and pro-big business drive of the AFP under the new reactionary government. The incursions of 10th ID-EastMinCom in the guerilla bases and zones and their attacks against the toiling masses shall be punished accordingly.
Daniel Ibarra
Spokesperson
Front 27 Operations Command
NPA-Southern Mindanao
December 5, 2010
