The 57th anniversary of the founding of the NPA has come and gone. One celebration in Occidental Mindoro was interrupted by the blazing guns of the AFP.
A pursuit operation against the New People’s Army (NPA) on the group's 57th founding anniversary turned deadly on Sunday, March 29, resulting in the death of a young Philippine Army (PA) officer and the capture of an insurgent in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro.
The encounter occurred at Sitio Salafay in Barangay Monteclaro as troops from the 68th Infantry “Kaagapay” Battalion tracked approximately 15 armed rebels, said Col. Michael Aquino, spokesperson of the 2nd Infantry Division (2ID).
The firefight lasted 20 minutes before the rebels retreated, but an Army trooper, identified as Captain Dean Buen Oyando, was killed in action while leading his men during the pursuit.
Two other soldiers were wounded in the engagement, including an injured personnel who had to be evacuated to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Medical Center in Quezon City for specialized treatment.
Meanwhile, a female NPA combatant with an M16 rifle was captured by the troops after she was allegedly abandoned by her comrades. Soldiers also recovered a hand grenade and components for improvised explosive devices (IEDs) at the encounter site.
“1st Lieutenant Dean Oyando embodied the courage and dedication of the Filipino soldier. His ultimate sacrifice in the pursuit of peace strengthens our resolve to continue the mission he bravely carried out—to protect our communities and secure lasting peace in our area of responsibility,” Aquino said.
The Sunday clash, which coincided with the anniversary of the NPA, founded on March 29, 1969, was not an isolated incident in the area as the same military unit engaged the same rebel group in Barangay Monteclaro on March 24.
That previous encounter led to the recovery of a firearm and the discovery of bloodstains, which indicated casualties among the fleeing rebels.
“This is a main disruption to their plans as they have been pummeled on their anniversary celebration. We are seeing that their ability to operate is being steadily reduced, they continue to lose ground as our operations intensify,” Aquino said.
The 2ID said that the focus remains on preventing the insurgents from regrouping in the province, hence the has intensified its footprint in Mindoro to dismantle remaining guerrilla fronts.
“Our continuous operations have undeniably disrupted the armed group’s movements and significantly diminished their capabilities. The terrorist NPA cannot hide from the long arms of the government as we build on the ultimate sacrifice of our fallen comrade and continue to apply the full force of the command to prevent them from regrouping,” Aquino added.
The military urged local residents to remain vigilant as pursuit operations continue in the mountainous areas of San Jose.
“We encourage the public to stay alert and to coordinate with local authorities in reporting any information that may help in our operations,” Aquino said.
Wow! The AFP fought 15 rebels, captured one, and lost one man in combat. That means 14 heavily armed and dangerous rebels were able to escape. Perhaps the captured rebel will lead the AFP to their lair.
AFP Chief Brawner says the sacrifice made by Captain Dean Buen Oyando will amount to nothing if there is no nation-building.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) must look beyond traditional combat to ensure their sacrifices lead to a future where Filipinos live with dignity.
AFP Chief of Staff, General Romeo S. Brawner Jr. issued this challenge to military and civilian personnel during the flag-raising ceremony at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Monday, March 30, as the country observes the Holy Week.
“This Holy Week, we are reminded that sacrifice has meaning only when it leads to something greater,” Brawner said.
The military chief noted that the observance of Holy Week offers a moment for solemn reflection.
He emphasized that it is also a time for reaffirming the AFP’s mission beyond security operations as the military continues its shift from internal security to external defense, while simultaneously maintaining a presence in disaster response and community development across the archipelago.
“We are called not only to confront threats but also to protect the peace that allows our people to live, work, and hope for a better future,” Brawner stated.
The AFP chief highlighted how the Lenten theme of sacrifice mirrors the soldier's oath, asserting that such devotion is meaningful only when it serves the higher purpose of safeguarding the nation's well-being and its people.
Under Brawner's leadership, the AFP has increasingly focused on “unity” as a pillar for professionalizing the ranks and strengthening territorial integrity.
The general reminded the troops that their duty extends to the very foundations of the country’s society, urging them to reflect on the deeper meaning of service and sacrifice.
“Because in the end, the mission is not only to defeat threats—it is to build a nation where every Filipino can live in peace, with dignity, and with a future they can believe in,” Brawner said.
What the heck? The CPP-NPA has repeatedly said they do not want unity. They do not want to surrender. There is also no peace deal without the CASER agreement which the Philippine government will in no way implement. Instead it's a war of attrition getting singular rebels and their supporters to surrender or die in combat. Notbaly there are more supporters than actual NPA rebels as attested to by neutralization accounts and the estimated total number of reaming NPA rebels.
Chief Brawner ties the battle with the religious imagery of Holy Week which might affect the troops but communism is atheistic. Nevertheless the Army is urging the NPA to reflect on Lent and fast from rebellion.
The Philippine Army’s 8th Infantry Division (8ID) has called on remaining members of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) to reflect during Holy Week and consider abandoning their armed struggle in favor of peace.
In a statement on Monday, the 8ID stated that the path of armed conflict leads to isolation and loss, while choosing peace creates opportunities for reconciliation, stability and a more meaningful future.
“We defend our communities from threats of violence so that peace and development may prevail,” the 8ID said, stressing that this principle continues to guide its efforts to protect the people and secure communities.
As the country observes Holy Week, the Army in Eastern Visayas said it stands in solidarity with peace-loving Filipinos in promoting a society anchored on justice, compassion and lasting peace.
The 8ID reiterated its condemnation of alleged atrocities committed by the NPA, including extortion, intimidation, recruitment of minors and violence that have affected communities for decades.
“Far from liberating the people, their so-called struggle has brought destruction, fear, and disruption to livelihoods in many barangays,” the statement read.
The 8ID emphasized that armed struggle is “futile and self-defeating,” pointing to ongoing military operations and nationwide efforts that have diminished communist terrorist group forces and their influence in Eastern Visayas.
It added that these developments reflect not only operational gains but also the growing rejection of violence by communities.
The 8ID also highlighted the transformation of former rebels who have returned to the fold of the law through government reintegration programs.
No doubt this plea will fall on deaf ears.
Two alleged rebels masquerading as activists were arrested by the police and military.
Two elderly women activists, one tagged by authorities as a communist rebel, were arrested in a joint police and military operation in Barangay Aganan of Pavia town, Iloilo on Maundy Thursday, April 2.
A press release by the Police Regional Office-6 (PRO-6) identified the suspected rebel only as “Dhaday” or “Gie,” 64, allegedly a member of the Panay regional committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines.
She was arrested by virtue of a warrant for rebellion issued on June 28, 2012, by the Regional Trial Court Branch 21 in Mambusao, Capiz, with a recommended bail of P40,000.
An associate, whom the police only identified as “Luing,” was arrested for obstruction of justice after allegedly interfering with the police operation in a house in Aganan.
Police added that “Dhaday” was also found in possession of materials used for making improvised explosive devices, which constitutes a violation of Republic Act No. 9516, or the law penalizing illegal possession of explosives.
An hour before the police issued a press release, Panay Alliance Karapatan confirmed the arrests and identified the arrested personalities as Josephine Porquia, 64, and Ma. Luisa Guillen, 62.
Porquia is the wife of Jose Reynaldo “Jory” Porquia, a former coordinator for the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) in Panay Island, who was slain in 2020 in the midst of aid work during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, Guillen, a member of progressive group Gabriela, is the mother of lawyer Angelo Karlo Guillen, who was attacked by unidentified persons in 2021 while serving as counsel to Tumandok detainees from Iloilo and Capiz.
The attack on the younger Guillen was the match that lit the escalated calls for protection of lawyers and judges across the country that year.
Panay Alliance Karapatan quickly condemned the arrests, noting the timing during Maundy Thursday and the continued targeting of human rights and development workers across the Western Visayas region and the rest of the country.
“Their arrest during the solemn observance of Lent reflects the continuing injustice faced by those who stand with the poor and oppressed. Like the biblical betrayal and injustice symbolized by Judas and Barabbas, these actions expose the moral bankruptcy of a system that persecutes those who serve the people,” the group said.
“These arrests are not isolated incidents but form part of a broader pattern of arbitrary arrests against human rights and development workers, in which trumped-up charges, irregular police operations, and violations of due process are repeatedly used to legitimize unlawful detention and suppress legitimate dissent and community work,” they added.
The operation was carried out by the Pavia Municipal Police Station tracker team with support from the Provincial Intelligence Unit of the Iloilo Provincial Police Office, the 62nd Special Action Company of the PNP Special Action Force, the Philippine Army’s 301st Infantry Brigade, and the Passi City Police Station.
As of this writing, the two are currently under the custody of the Pavia Municipal Police Station for proper disposition and filing of appropriate charges.
Note how Panay Alliance Karapatan has turned on its head the Army's use of Lent as a time to reflect and surrender. The alliance says they stand with the poor and oppressed while the government is a Judas betraying the people's trust. It's not clear why they brought up Barabbas as he was not a traitor but a murderer who Pilate set free in place of Christ.
