It began when members of the Philippine military swept through a remote area of the island of Negros – stealing food, raping women, burning houses, killing animals and murdering 13 people. The massacre was in retaliation for a deadly raid on their compound by a platoon of the New People’s Army (NPA), the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines. While these events occurred in 1987, variations of the same tragedy play out over and over in this ongoing insurrection, with no end in sight.

​This is a first-person account of a journey “inside the zone” to meet with the young fighters of the NPA who mounted that daring raid. Cartter takes you on his trek from coastal sugar plantations deep into the mountains and beyond, to the NPA’s operating area where the military's rampage took place. Along the way, you’ll meet ordinary Filipino families who eke out a living in the area, providing critical support for the struggle, and sometimes suffering the consequences.

​While in the rebel encampment, you’ll hear from the fighters themselves. Why did they join the fight? Who do they see as the enemy? What is daily life like? What are their aspirations? A gripping account of their raid on the military compound, in which people on both sides died, is given by the platoon commander himself.

​An experienced photojournalist, Cartter’s 48 powerful images reinforce the narrative. By putting you in the action, "Inside the Zone" drives home both the humanity and terrible toll of this intractable war.