links: http://www.afp.mil.ph/index.php/19-afp-data-articles/latest-news/1110-npas-continue-attacking-civilians
NPAs Continue Attacking Civilians
- Published on Friday, 15 February 2013 11:29
- Written by PAO, AFP
Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City – The New People’s Army, in another attempt to harass military personnel, wounded another civilian in an attack in Northern Samar last Tuesday, February 12. The attack was directed at the Pinarican CAFGU Active Auxilliary (CAA) conducting dialogues with residents of Barangay Guindaulan, Rosario, Northern Samar.
The NPA insurgents fired upon the Army troops and para military forces while conducting dialogue even in the presence of civilians in the community. As a result, Raul Estellero, a resident of Brgy 3, Rosario, Northern Samar was wounded along with two military troops and one CAA, namely: Ssg Dionald Opilanda, Sgt Arnold Miranda and CAA Jonar Estellero; and one CAA killed. Meanwhile, undetermined number of the NPA insurgents was also wounded in the encounter as disclosed by civilians in the area.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines has earlier denounced the attacks against civilians perpetrated by the NPAs who are falsely projecting themselves as a pro-people armed movement, following an ambush that killed eight civilians and a policeman in La Castellana town, Negros last January 27.
It was earlier reported that for the whole month of January this year, the NPA conducted 10 violent activities which killed 10 civilians and wounded nine. This clearly shows that the rebel group continues to pursue armed violence despite ongoing peace efforts by the government. The AFP for its part is maintaining its focused security operations which so far have led to the neutralization of 21 NPA personalities of which 19 surrendered to the government in the first month of the year.
The recent attacks against civilians are clear violations of R.A. 9851 or the Act Defining and Penalizing Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law; and the Comprehensive Agreement on Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law that the communist group signed with the Philippine government to protect innocent civilians.
It may be recalled last year, the NPAs were responsible for 374 violent incidents that caused the death of 53 civilians over the country. Rounding up the statistics, an innocent civilian is killed by the NPA every week last year.
They capitalize on soft targets, often resolving to inhumane tactics including the use of Improvised Explosive Devices, conduct of ambuscades, extortion activities, and sabotage of vital economic facilities in the past years.
“The AFP will continue to support the government in its pursuit of the peace process and continue to intensify security operations to protect civilian communities. We hope that the collective call for justice of our peace-loving citizens compel the rebels to abandon the armed violence,” AFP Chief of Staff General Emmanuel T Bautista said.
“Our soldiers will not stand idle in ensuring that our communities are secure from the violence perpetrated by the NPAs, despite our firm resolve to uphold the primacy of the peace process. We have to exhaust all means necessary to put a stop to the NPA’s persistent armed violence which is causing loss of civilian lives and destruction of properties,” Gen Bautista added.
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