The New People’s Army (NPA)-Bukidnon defended itself against the 8th IB troops in a clash that occurred on July 1, at 7:20 in the morning, in Sitio Tubigon, Barangay Busdi, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon Province. No less than seven fascist 8th IB soldiers were confirmed killed in the battle.
The people’s army reported that its fighters were walking when they encountered the 8th IB. The battle lasted for 15 minutes, during which the NPA-Bukidnon managed to fire shots and safely maneuvered.
In retaliation, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) fired cannons on July 1 and 2 for the damage the NPA damage wrought to the 8th IB. No NPA-Bukidnon unit was hit, but the bombing terrorized the farmers and Lumad communities in the area.
The AFP first fired four artillery shells at 12:30 p.m. on July 1. Two Black Hawk helicopters retrieved the killed soldiers’ remains. Then two more artillery rounds were fired at 3 p.m.
On the next day, the AFP again fired four artillery rounds at 3 a.m. while the civilian population was resting.
“The Party congratulates the NPA-Bukidnon for taking the initiative in the recent encounter to defend itself against the fascist soldiers,” Communist Party of the Philippines chief information officer Marco L. Valbuena, said. He added that the people’s army must further develop guerrilla warfare to consistently defeat the fascist attacks and repression campaign of the US-Marcos regime and its armed forces.
Meanwhile, Valbuena condemned the AFP for its indiscriminate shelling which traumatizes civilian communities. “The AFP shelling clearly aims to sow terror and intimidate the farmers and Lumad to break their fighting spirit,” Valbuena stated.
He added that the Filipino people must continuously expose the AFP’s crimes and violations of international humanitarian law in the countryside.
Source : https://philippinerevolution.nu/angbayan/npa-bukidnon-defensive-action-kills-7-fascist-8th-ib-soldiers/