The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) joins the Filipino people in condemning in the strongest terms possible the fascist troops of the 86th Infantry Battalion for carrying out the heinous murder of elderly couple Vicente and Rosario Valenzuela in Sitio Calatbagin, Barangay San Miguel, Echague, Isabela in the early morning hours of November 23. Operating troops of the 86th IB's Alpha Company under 2Lt. Bernardino opened fire on the Valenzuelas after accusing Vicente of being an NPA guerrilla fighter just because he was found with a bolo used for harvesting root crops. The Army soldiers ignored the appeal of relatives who were shouting that the Valenzuelas were unarmed civilians.
Lubos na nahubaran ang mga pagpapanggap ng 5th Infantry Division ng Philippine Army na ito daw ay tagapagtaguyod na ng mga karapatang tao at sumusunod sa “rules of engagement” nang pagbabarilin ng mga tropa ng Alpha Company ng 86th Infantry Battalion sa pamumuno ng isang 2nd Lt. Bernardino ang dalawang matandang mag-asawa sa sitio Calatbagin, Brgy San Miguel, Echague, Isabela noong alas tres ng madaling araw ng Nobyembre 23.