‘Ambushers may not be local rebels’

From the Visayan Daily Star (Jan 29): ‘Ambushers may not be local rebels’

The police are looking into the possibility that the suspects in what they call the “barbaric attack” Sunday in La Castellana, Negros Occidental, that claimed the lives of nine, and injured 12 others, may not be “local rebels” but those from other areas of the country.

Senior Supt. Celestino Guara, caretaker of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, yesterday said the “local boys” cannot afford to do it, as they have families and relatives in the area. If they are not NPA, then who? Guara asked.

Based on the accounts of eyewitnesses and survivors, as well as their intelligence reports, Col. Francisco Patrimonio, 302nd Infantry Brigade commander, maintained that the ambush was initiated by the NPA.

The NPA has not issued any statement yet claiming or denying responsibility for the ambush.

Guara said some of the suspects spoke in Cebuano, while Patrimonio said others spoke in a language survivors could not understand that he believes to have been “Waray”.

The military has confirmed the merging of Bohol, Samar and Leyte rebels with the local NPA command in the southeastern portion of Negros island.

Edwin Sevilla, a member of Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team, stationed at a police outpost in Brgy. Cabacungan, La Castellana, and who survived the ambush, said the suspects, who positioned themselves on the left side of the road, in an area planted with sugarcane, had shouted “Mabuhay ang NPA!”

While withdrawing from the ambush site, Guara claimed that some rebels helped their injured comrades, who may have been hit, when the two injured policemen briefly fought back against them.

A resident of Brgy. Puso, La Castellana, who requested anonymity said in an interview with DYEZ Aksyon Radyo, that she believes that the group of NPA men were from Samar and Leyte, and not local ones, and may have used a local guide.

They may also have targeted members of the BPAT, who are rebel returnees and possess firearms, she added.

Chief Supt. Agrimero Cruz, regional police director of Western Visayas, yesterday called on the Commission on Human Rights and non-government organizations involved in the promotion and protection of human rights, to help the police and the military in the investigation.

Cruz also said, “This is an opportunity for all human rights advocates to show their support against dastardly acts of the NPA”.

Army spokesman Col. Arnulfo Burgos Jr. said the NPA perpetrated the attack despite openness of the AFP with rebels returning to the democratic fold.

"While we support the efforts of the government for peace and development, our focused combat operations will continue to target those who continue to pursue armed violence that has caused suffering to our people and loss of innocent lives," Burgos said.

He added that the NPAs continue to wage armed violence, disrupt the peace-building initiatives of the government, and even disrespect the peace process by violating past ceasefire pronouncements.

Burgos added that Sunday's attack on non-combatants is clearly another violation of the Comprehensive Agreement on Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law they signed.

The AFP is now coordinating with the Philippine National Police and activated Task Force La Castellana to undertake pursuit operations against the perpetrators.

"Our troops in the area will strictly follow the rules of engagement and will respect and promote human rights in all our operations," Burgos added.

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2013/January/29/topstory2.htm