Two more killed in mounting NPA-RHB rivalry in Central Luzon

MEXICO, Pampanga — A Christmas truce is definitely out of the picture for two rival communist armed groups in Central Luzon.

A human rights group, Karapatan-Central Luzon (Karapatan), has accused the communist faction Rebolusyonaryong Hukbo ng Bayan (RHB) of killing two "innocent civilians" tagged as members of the New People’s Army (NPA) here last Dec. 20.

In a press statement yesterday, Karapatan condemned the murder of Noel de la Cruz and Jessie Bagtas, both of Barangay San Nicolas here.

The two victims, the group said, were "legitimate members" of the farmers’ group Aguman da reng Maglalautang Capampangan (AMC) and were not NPA guerrillas.

Based on its fact-finding mission, Karapatan said the two were killed by three men believed to be RHB members in front of the San Lorenzo Elementary School while peddling tilapia.

De la Cruz sustained eight gunshot wounds in the head and body, while Bagtas sustained 11. Before they were fatally shot, De la Cruz reportedly had a heated argument with alleged RHB leader and neighbor Rey Lagman, alias Carla, who allegedly implicated De la Cruz in the killing of Bartolome Quizon in this town last Dec. 2.

Quizon was believed to be RHB’s top commander in Pampanga. The NPA later admitted "executing" him for his alleged crimes against the "revolutionary movement" and for his participation in attacks against the NPA in the past months.

Karapatan said De la Cruz was shot at close range by a man who pretended to be a fish buyer, who also shot Bagtas in the back of the head while the latter was fleeing.

"We challenge the local government of Mexico to investigate the crime and mobilize the police to go after the criminals behind the killings," Karapatan said.

The RHB, the armed group of the Marxist-Leninist Party of the Philippines (MLPP), has been at odds with the NPA, the military arm of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP). The MIPP broke away from the CPP in 1998.

Earlier this month, the RHB captured two alleged NPA members in Barangay Bangkal in Sasmuan town. The two were later tried by the RHB’s "revolutionary court" but were later cleared of participation in the NPA’s "counter-revolutionary" operations.

The two, identified only as Ka Ariel and Ka Amy, were released to the custody of San Fernando Archbishop Paciano Aniceto.