Military blames NPA for human rights violations

The military yesterday blamed the communist New People’s Army (NPA) for at least 212 human rights violations in Southern Luzon and Northern Mindanao regions, directed not only against government targets but also civilians and private business establishments.

Army 4th Infantry Division (ID) spokesman Maj. Eugenio Julio Osias IV said that from the period of January to November this year, the 4th ID accounted 154 human rights violations perpetrated by the NPA’s three regional front committees operating in Northern Mindanao region.

Osias said that the NPA’s North-Central Mindanao Regional Party Committee committed the most number of atrocities with 64, mostly targeting innocent civilians and private businesses.

On the other hand, Osias said that the NPA’s North-Eastern Regional Party Committee is blamed for 57 human rights violations while the Southern Mindanao Regional Party Committee committed 33.

Among the high-profile atrocity staged by the NPA was the raid at the three mining sites in Barangay Taganito in Claver, Surigao del Norte last Oct. 3 which resulted in the destruction of more than P3 billion worth of valuables.

Army 4th ID chief Maj. Gen. Victor Felix said he has been continuously reiterating his guidance to his troops to uphold human rights in all their undertakings.

“Zero tolerance against human rights violations shall be implemented at all times, and if any soldier violated this, I encourage the people to file formal complaints and I will personally see to it that the proper procedure of the laaw will be followed,” Felix said.

In Southern Luzon, the military’s Southern Luzon Command (Solcom) compiled a total of 58 human rights violations committed by the NPA in the region from January to November.

Solcom spokesman Col. Generoso Bolina said the NPA atrocities victimized 47 innocent civilians, six policemen, four Cafgu members and one soldier.

Of the 58 NPA atrocities, Bolina said 47 were committed by communist rebels operating in Bicol region while 11 were staged in Southern Tagalog region.

The lone military man who fell victims to NPAs in Quezon province was identified as Cpl. Ferdinand Valencia, who was abducted from his house in Real, Quezon last May 17 and went missing.

Last Aug. 2, an NPA surrenderee led Army troops to Valencia’s burial ground in Famy, Laguna where his remains were recovered.

Solcom chief Lt. Gen. Roland Detabali condemned the communist group for continuously disregarding human rights.  –Mario J. Mallari, Daily Tribune