The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) yesterday blamed the communist New People’s Army (NPA) for 31 cases extra-judicial killings out of the total 32 recorded in Bicol region since January this year.
Army 9th Infantry Division (ID) spokesman Maj. Angelo Guzman said that among the victims of the NPA’s extra-judicial killings were a soldier, four policemen, three government militiamen, four military informants, a rebel returnee and 18 civilians.
Guzman stressed that the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the NPA owned up to several of the killings.
“The CPP-NPA has owned responsibility to the summary killings of several innocent civilians in the region. They usually tag them as military informant to justify their criminal acts,” said Guzman.
Guzmman said the latest victims of the NPA extra-judicial killings were civilians Ruel Macalla and Jun Vasquez, who were slain this month in Albay and Camarines Sur, respectively. He said the NPA had admitted responsibility over these deaths.
Guzman said a total of 37 extra-judicial killings were recorded to have been perpetrated by the NPAs in the region last year. However, he could not immediately say how many cases were reported to have been committed by soldiers during the period.
Guzman said that only one EJK case was blamed to the military, that killing of Elmer Estrellado, who was reportedly abducted in Albay but his lifeless body was recovered in Camarines Sur. Several soldiers were implicated in the case and are now facing criminal case.
“A case was already filed by the (police)…The soldiers involved are in the division’s headquarters so that in case they are needed for (preliminary) investigation, they are readily available,” said Guzman
Guzman lashed at the CPP-NPA and its militant groups for projecting that the military is behind the rash of extra-judicial killings in the country. This propaganda, he said, were used as a medium for NPA recruitment in the countryside.
The official said the communist propaganda is well countered by the deployment of Peace and Development Teams, which had also cleared 26 barangays in Camarines Norte and Sorsogon from rebel influence this year. –Mario J. Mallari, Daily Tribune
March –
IT’S WOMEN’S MONTH!
“Respect and support women
every day of the year/s!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the recommendations of the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry
against serious violations of protocols of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association.
Accept the National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands
#Report Corruption #SearchPosts #TakePicturesVideos
Monthly Observances:
Women’s Role in History Month
Weekly Observances:
Week 1: Environmental Week;
Women’s Week
Week 3: Philippine Industry and “
Made-in-the-Philippines Products Week
Last Week: Protection and Gender-Fair Treatment
of the Girl Child Week
Daily Observances:
March 8: Women’s Rights and
International Peace Day;
National Women’s Day
March 4: Employee Appreciation Day
March 15: World Consumer Rights Day
March 18: Global Recycling Day
March 21: International Day for the Elimination
of Racial Discrimination
March 23: International Day for the Right to the Truth
Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations
and for the Dignity of Victims
March 25: International Day of Remembrance of the
Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade
March 27: Earth Hour
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