14/01/2026
𝗔𝗯𝗿𝗮 𝗱𝗲 𝗜𝗹𝗼𝗴 𝗺𝗮𝘆𝗼𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗺𝘀 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀
CAMP CAPINPIN, Rizal — The Municipal Government of Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro has strongly denied claims circulating online that civilians, including Mangyan Iraya children, were killed during the successive encounters between government troops and New People’s Army (NPA) elements on January 1.
In a public statement, Mayor Meg Constantino clarified that allegations claiming the deaths of three Mangyan children are false and have no factual basis. She stressed that the local government personally verified the situation on the ground through direct consultations with sitio leaders and affected communities, all of whom confirmed that no children were killed, injured, or reported missing following the incident.
“Nais po naming manatili ang kapayapaan. Nais po naming makilala ang bayan naming bilang isang maunlad, payapa, at ligtas na pamayanan. Kaya po kami ay naninikluhod na sana naman po ay ’yung mga tama lamang at katotohanan ang mareport natin sa social media, sa dyaryo, at sa radyo,” Constantino said.
“Sa gitna ng kumakalat na alegasyon ng Karapatan at mga kaalyado nila tungkol sa umano’y pagkamatay ng tatlong batang Mangyan sa Abra de Ilog, nagsalita na po ang mismong punong bayan. Dahil po dito sa nangyaring insidente, wala po—at ako po ang nagpapatunay—wala pong tatlong batang Mangyan ang namatay,” she added.
The mayor further explained that community leaders themselves confirmed the absence of civilian casualties.
“Yan po ay kinapanayam namin, ang mga lider ng mga komunidad na naapektuhan, at sinabi po mismo nila na walang mga batang nawawala, walang nasaktan, at walang inang sugatan mula po sa insidente,” Constantino said.
She also appealed to the public and media to refrain from portraying Abra de Ilog as a conflict-ridden community.
“Huwag po sana nating ipakita ang bayan ng Abra de Ilog na parang nakubkob ng kaguluhan. Tahimik po kami. Walang mga batang nasaktan sa nangyaring insidente nitong Enero 1,” she emphasized.
The mayor’s statement comes amid allegations raised by groups such as Karapatan and their allies, which claimed civilian casualties without presenting names, locations, or any verifiable details to support their assertions.
Meanwhile, 2nd Infantry (Jungle Fighter) Division Spokesperson and Division Public Affairs Office Chief Colonel Michael Aquino said such fabricated claims deliberately ignore verified accounts from the ground and the voices of local communities themselves.
“These are serious accusations, yet they have not presented a single name, family, or community to support their claims. In contrast, local government officials, sitio leaders, and indigenous youth organizations in Abra de Ilog have spoken clearly and consistently—there were no civilian casualties. These false narratives mislead the public and disrespect the very communities they claim to defend,” Aquino said.
He added that fabricating or exaggerating incidents undermines public trust and sows unnecessary fear among residents who are striving to preserve peace in their communities.
The 2nd Infantry Division reiterated that the January 1 operations were conducted in response to reports from residents themselves and were carried out with strict adherence to the protection of civilians.
#𝟮𝗜𝗗𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲𝗙𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗿
#𝗕𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗔𝗱𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗺
#𝗝𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗙𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗗𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱
#𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗣𝗬𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁
