DOJ to probe NPA crimes

MANILA, Philippines - The government will pursue criminal investigation of armed attacks and extortion perpetrated by the New People’s Army (NPA) on candidates in this election period.

Secretary Leila de Lima said yesterday the Department of Justice (DOJ) would create a special task force to determine criminal liabilities of NPA guerrillas involved in a recent spate of election-related attacks and abuses.

De Lima said the team, composed of state prosecutors, state counsels and agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), would be tasked “to look into those alleged unlawful and irregular activities attributed to the NPA and recommend appropriate courses of action or measures to exact accountability and put a stop to said activities.”

De Lima said the crimes attributed to the NPA, some of which the group has owned up to, require the perpetrators to face the charges and give justice to their victims.

She said the belligerence of the NPA does not exempt the  group from coverage of the country’s penal laws. 

“We must all remember that the laws and rules promulgated by the duly constituted authorities of the state apply to all citizens and that accountability for violations thereof must be made to bear upon all concerned, state actors or non-state actors included. There cannot be a selective application of laws and delivery of justice. Justice is for all,” she said.

De Lima, however, said prosecuting the communist rebels could be a tough task.

Because of this, De Lima said the special task force should first determine the appropriate mechanisms to be used in the criminal investigation.

“That should be part of the assignment of the special task force – to recommend the appropriate legal processes and mechanisms to bring to justice those NPA members found to be responsible for the illegal activities complained of,” she explained.

Among the incidents to be probed by the DOJ task force is the recent attack on Gingoog Mayor Ruth Guingona that wounded her and killed two of her aides.

The NPA owned up to the attack and regretted having killed two civilians.

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) in a statement last April 23 admitted to a number of attacks against several politicians in the provinces. The NPA has also been putting up checkpoints and continue to collect revolutionary taxes or “permits to campaign” from politicians.

Administration senatorial candidate former Akbayan representative Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday called for an investigation of criminal offenses by the NPA.

Hontiveros urged the DOJ to act on what she described as a “pattern of abuse and gangsterism that threatens the chance to effect social change through democratic, peaceful and clean elections.”