Army, NPA trade accusations on unsolved killings

MANILA, Philippines - The military yesterday accused the communist New People’s Army (NPA) rebels of executing 17 people in less than two months.

The military made the accusations even as President Aquino said he would welcome the leaders of the National Democratic Front (NDF), the umbrella organization of the communist rebels, to Malacañang as a gesture to restart the stalled peace talks with rebels.

NDF chairman Luis Jalandoni traded accusations with the government by pointing out that the continued detention of the 43 suspected NPA rebels in Morong, Rizal and the summary executions by the military were crucial points in the attempt to end the decades-old conflict.

Army spokesman Col. Antonio Parade Jr. said the NPA rebels continued their rampage by killing 17 people in Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, Tacurong City in South Cotabato, Nueva Ecija, Bukidnon, Agusan del Sur, Compostela Valley, Occidental Mindoro, Zamboanga and Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte and in Agusan del Sur.

“Out of 17 victims, six were soldiers, one policeman and 10 civilians,” Parlade said.

He said the most recent NPA atrocity was the killing of Renante Cariate, a former member of a rival group, the Revolutionary Proletariat Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPA-ABB) based in Negros island.

Parlade said Cariate was gunned down by suspected NPA rebels in Barangay Lopez Jaena, Sagay City last Wednesday.

Parlade said seized documents from a captured NPA leader revealed the order to execute former comrades and suspected military informants.

“The documents revealed that the CPP (Communist Party of the Philippines) intends to pursue a strategy of terrorism guided by their vision of elevating the people’s war to the highest level; disregarding Rules of Engagement and respect for International Humanitarian Law,” Parlade said.

Parlade also detailed other cases of summary killings of the NPA in other regions.

He said the NPA killed a total 15 people last September, which included a military officer, six militiamen and eight civilians.

The NPA, on the other hand, released a statement denying the claims of the military, accusing the Army of being behind the unexplained killings.

The NPA, through its spokesman in Rizal, Arman Guerrero, said the killing of soldiers was justified in what it claimed as legitimate combat.

“Since Benigno Aquino III assumed the presidency… the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) and PNP (Philippine National Police) have continued to harass, maim and kill civilians they suspect as members of the revolutionary movement,” Guerrero said.

Guerrero accused the military of committing human rights violations in Rizal in killing six people that included three Dumagat tribesmen.

“We are calling the attention of the church and concerned local government officials and individuals who revere human rights to continue their fight to protect the people’s rights and prosecute the perpetrators of these crimes,” Guerrero said.

Jalandoni added these issues are crucial in resolving the conflict with the government to restart the peace talks.

He said the problem of landlessness, continuing human rights violations, enforced disappearances and unexplained killings committed by government forces would hinder the efforts to talk peace with the CPP-NPA.

Jalandoni led representatives of the NDF during a meeting organized by the Philippines Solidarity Network of Aotearoa in New Zealand where they presented their 12-point program to start the peace talks with the Philippine government.

Jalandoni also highlighted President Aquino’s   position on the family-owned Hacienda Luisita in Tarlac.

“President Aquino promised change but he has yet to resolve the long disputed Cojuangco-Aquino owned Hacienda Luisita covering 6,453-hectares of land that could benefit thousands of poor families if redistributed justly,” Jalandoni said.

“Peace will be the fruit of social justice, when the small landed elite and foreign multinationals will no longer monopolize land ownership in the country. Land reform is a principal issue that must be addressed to pave the way for just and lasting peace in the Philippines,” he said.

Jalandoni declared before the gathering that there would be “no short cut to a peace agreement” with the government. – With Pia Lee-Brago