NPA admits killing 5 workers of timber firm in Agusan Sur

BUTUAN CITY, Philippines – Communist rebels on Thursday owned up to the deaths of five civilians, whom they abducted during a rebel raid in a wood firm in Esperanza, Agusan del Sur early this week.

The confirmation on the killing of the five civilians came even as the New People’s Army (NPA) took five soldiers as hostage in Davao City.

But Jorge Madlos, spokesperson of the National Democratic Front in Mindanao, justified the execution of the civilians – whom a police official identified as Angel Cosan, Danny Linonsag, Felipe Hadraque, Remy Polintan and Jun Tria – by saying they had committed massive human rights abuses and were also involved in banditry.

On Tuesday morning, at least 40 NPA rebels on board two cargo trucks stormed the compound of Shennalyne Corp. in Barangay (village) Milagros.

Shennalyne Corp., a consortium of New Zealand and Philippine tree growers, is among Caraga’s largest timber-industrial firms and is engaged in cultivating acacia, falcatta and gemelina trees – which are the main ingredients in paper and furniture production.

But according to Madlos, “Shennalyne Corp. was involved in rampant illegal logging activities, which persisted at the expense of the environment and the tribal communities, aside from the fact that it was taking place amid the nationwide log ban.”

Based on a report furnished the Philippine Daily Inquirer by Supt. Martin Gamba, the spokesperson of the Caraga regional police, the rebels held the five civilian caretakers at gunpoint during the raid.

When they retreated, they also dragged the civilians away and burned several heavy equipment, including a grader, dump trucks and payloaders, which were parked just outside, he said.

Gamba said the bodies of the slain civilian caretakers were recovered in another village.

“The arms were tied behind the backs and had bullet wounds on the heads. They were slain execution-style,” Gamba said. He scored the rebels for killing the caretakers, adding that no amount of explanation could justify their deaths.

“Executions are hallmarks of extremist groups. The NPA claims to be pro-poor and pro-people but in reality the rebels are barbaric, ruthless and inhuman,” Gamba said as he urged human rights group to conduct a probe on the deaths of the victims.

He said contrary to its pronouncements, the NPA did not respect human rights.

“They were captives; they should have been accorded the rights entitled of prisoners of war. But they were executed without due process,” Gamba added.

“The revolutionary movement meted out death on the five civilians because of their human rights violations, crimes against the people and their involvement in banditry,” Madlos said.

He said the executed hostages belonged to the Wild Dogs, a dreaded anti-communist group organized by the military in Agusan del Sur in the 1990s.

In a related development, the NPA also said the five soldiers it held hostage in Paquibato district in Davao City since Wednesday remained safe and would be tried for involvement in counter-intelligence operation and other violations.

Leoncio Pitao said the soldiers would be released – as in the case of several government troops the NPA has earlier abducted – if the “thorough investigation” by the NPA would show they did not commit any human rights violations and others “crimes” against the revolution.

On Wednesday, a team of motorcycle-riding soldiers – led by 1Lt. Neven Canitan, was passing by a remote village in Paquibato when they were intercepted by NPA rebels.

Canitan managed to escape but five of his men were taken hostage.

The NPA has stepped up its attacks against what it termed as a legitimate target since its Oslo-brokered talks with the Philippine government collapsed.

In Pantukan, Compostela Valley, a clash ensued when soldiers checked on a report about the presence of some rebels in Sitio Sapang Tin-aw in Barangay Tibagon on Wednesday.

Capt. Raul Villegas, deputy public affairs chief of the 10th Infantry Division, said a rebel was killed during the clash while a soldier was wounded. –Dennis Jay Santos and Eldie Aguirre, Franklin Caliguid, Inquirer Mindanao

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