Provincial and municipal officials in Occidental Mindoro have condemned the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) and rejected what they described as false and misleading claims surrounding the January 1 armed clash in Abra de Ilog town.
In a joint resolution adopted on January 6 in Mamburao, the Provincial Government of Occidental Mindoro, led by Governor Ed Gadiano, formally denounced the CPP-NPA and criticized the spread of unverified information about the incident.
Resolution No. 006, Series of 2026, was approved during the first-quarter joint meeting of the Provincial Peace and Order Council, Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council, Provincial Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, and the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program Committee.
The provincial government said the encounter in Barangay Cabacao, Abra de Ilog posed a serious threat to public safety and community welfare, and accused certain groups of fueling fear and confusion by circulating claims that lack factual basis.
The resolution reaffirmed the mandate of local governments under Republic Act 7160 to maintain peace and order, stressing the province’s commitment to protect civilians, uphold the rule of law, and strengthen coordination with security forces against insurgent threats.
Col. Michael Aquino, Army 2nd Infantry (Jungle Fighter) Division spokesperson, said the action taken by the provincial government directly contradicts narratives circulating online.
“This is no longer just the military speaking. The Provincial Government of Occidental Mindoro itself—led by Governor Ed Gadiano—has gone on record condemning the CPP-NPA and rejecting false information,” Aquino said.
Separately, Abra de Ilog Mayor Meg Constantino strongly denied online claims that civilians, including children of the indigenous Mangyan Iraya tribe, were killed during the January 1 encounters.
In a statement, Constantino said the allegations were false and had no factual basis. She noted that the local government conducted direct consultations with sitio leaders and affected communities, all of whom confirmed that no children were killed, injured, or reported missing.
“Nais po naming manatili ang kapayapaan… kaya po kami ay naninikluhod na sana ay katotohanan lamang ang mareport,” Constantino said.
(We want peace to remain… that’s why we’re on our knees begging that only the truth be told.)
She emphasized that community leaders themselves verified the absence of civilian casualties and urged the public not to portray Abra de Ilog as a conflict-ridden area.
