From Ang Bayan: Call To Honor The Panay August Martyrs’ Life And Struggle

Ang Bayan Ngayon | August 13, 2025

On the first anniversary of the Panay August Martyrs, the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Panay Regional Committee called for the people to remember their lives and honor their memory. The regional committee urged all revolutionary forces in Panay to carry out various activities as tribute to the martyrs throughout the month of August, and designated August 26 as the Day of the Martyrs of Panay.

The Panay August Martyrs include 11 Red fighters of the New People’s Army (NPA)-Panay (Coronacion Waling-Waling Chiva Command) and Party leaders and cadres who were martyred in August 2024. They are Vicente Hinojales (Ka Hadjie), Concha Araneta-Bocala (Ka Minay), Rewilmar Torrato (Ka Minerva), Benjamin Cortel (Ka Amor), Romulo Iturriaga Gangoso (Ka Reagan), Aurelio Bosque (Ka Zarco), Jose Jerry Tacaisan (Ka Miller), Juvylene Silverio (Ka Porang), Armando Sabares (Ka Kamlon), Jielmor Gauranoc (Ka Tanggo), and John Paul Capio (Ka Ronron).

At the time of his death, Ka Hadjie served as a Central Committee member and Panay Regional Party Committee secretary. He led the Panay region from 2016, after playing an important role in the comprehensive growth of the revolutionary struggles in Northeast Mindanao from 2006 to 2016.

Ka Concha served as Ka Hadjie’s partner in leadership together with the entire regional committee. She began working as a full-time cadre and organizer in 1972. Apart from being one of the key officials of the Panay Regional Party Committee, she was also designated as a National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) peace negotiations consultant. Her 75th birthday will be marked on August 26.

The other fallen cadres and fighters performed their respective duties at the regional and field levels at the time of their martyrdom.

Related to the anniversary, the committee instructed all Party units to hold discussion meetings about the lives of the martyrs, issue tribute statements, write poems, compose songs, and carry out other activities. It also ordered all units under NPA-Panay to form ranks and offer a solemn 21-gun salute. It encouraged NDF allied organizations in the region, as well as friends and supporters of the revolutionary movement, to conduct similar activities.

“Above all, we must give life to their martyrdom by joining the armed struggle and enlisting in the New People’s Army. This is the highest form of tribute for the August 2024 Martyrs and those who came before them,” the regional committee said.

According to the committee, hundreds of younger forces must urgently take on tasks in the mass struggle and the armed struggle in the countryside to immediately recover from the losses and setbacks suffered in recent years as a result of internal errors, shortcomings, and weaknesses in Party leadership, and to advance further beyond the level previously reached.

“With inexhaustible optimism and under the guidance of the Third Rectification Movement, the remaining cadres, commanders, and Red fighters firmly believe that the armed revolution will advance again, regardless of obstacles it will face,” it added. It also stressed holding fast to the lessons of history in order to advance.

As a guide for advancement, the regional committee laid out six points of tasks based on the Central Committee planned work areas that require immediate focus. “It is the duty of every Party cadre and member to contribute with all their strength… and through this we will also realize the principles of our Martyrs,” the regional committee said.