Volume IV, Number 1. 15 January 2022.
On Christmas Eve, 24 December 2021, New People’s Army comrades Menandro Villanueva and Sandra Reyes were captured alive by elements of the Armed Forces of the Philippines after a gunbattle in Mabini town, Davao de Oro, in southern Philippines. At the time of his capture, Comrade Menandro was the National Commander of the NPA and a member of the Central Committee and Political Bureau of the Communist Party of the Philippines.
It was only the following day, on Christmas Day, that the AFP announced that Comrade Sandra was killed in action. In other words, she was hors de combat and summarily executed under the custody of the AFP.
In the subsequent days, posters were hung in Davao de Oro, offering reward money for the capture of Comrade Menandro. Still later, on 5 January, the AFP rained artillery shells on the villages of Mabini town, claiming that they were on the verge of capturing the high-ranking NPA and CPP leader.
It was only on 6 January – after twelve days – that the AFP deceptively announced that Comrade Menandro was killed in a gunfight in Mabini town. He was hors de combat, abducted and disappeared, tortured and summarily executed under AFP custody.
The AFP gloated over their murderous deeds, claimed their reward money and boasted once again of the impending demise of the revolutionary movement. They most especially rejoice and dance on the grave of Comrade Menandro because he roused and empowered the poor peasants and indigenous Lumad of Mindanao. Because he helped plant and nurture the people’s democratic government in hundreds of poor villages. And because he helped lead the people’s resistance against destructive mining and other profiteering operations which ravage the environment and plundered the nation’s patrimony.
The CPP, NPA, all revolutionary forces and the Filipino people render their highest honors to Comrade Menandro. He selflessly served the Filipino people’s revolutionary cause for five decades and helped advance their national democratic and socialist aspirations. He is now among the legion of heroes of the Filipino people.
His death is certainly a big loss to the Party and the revolutionary movement. But in his long and fruitful service, Comrade Menandro made great achievements in the recruitment, training and development of thousands upon thousands of CPP members, NPA Red fighters and revolutionary activists. Several comrades are already primed to take his place and perform his duties.
Duterte and his security officials can only vainly dream of defeating the CPP, NPA and Filipino people’s aspirations for national liberation, genuine democracy and just peace. They will more certainly face the consequences of their horrendous war crimes and crimes against the Filipino people.