The New People’s Army claimed on Friday, July 8, said that the alleged encounter with state troopers on July 6 in Binalbagan, Negros Occidental, which claimed the lives of four of their comrades, was a “massacre.”
But the government forces refuted their claims, saying that the NPA is spreading lies to cover the setback following the death of their four members.
Ka Juanito Magbanua, spokesperson of the NPA Apolinario Gatmaitan Command, claimed the encounter was “fake.”
Their comrades were sick and resting when the soldiers raided their hut, he said.
The state forces should have not neutralized the rebels because they were not well and could not fight, Magbanua added.
Capt. Kim Apitong, officer-in-charge of the Public Affairs Office of the 3rd Infantry Division, said that the NPA’s statement was false and the encounter that took place was legitimate.
They have photographs and testimonies from residents on the presence of the rebels in the area, he said.*