Come out of comfort zone, Army challenges Jalandoni

From the Visayan Daily Star (Feb 11): Come out of comfort zone, Army challenges Jalandoni

Maj. Gen. Jose Mabanta, commander of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division, yesterday challenged Negrense priest-turned-rebel Luis Jalandoni to come out from his comfort zone in the Netherlands, to see for himself what had actually transpired in La Castellana.

This was after Jalandoni justified the military action of the New People’s Army on January 27 in Brgy. Puso, La Castellana, by saying that the passengers of the truck were legitimate targets, citing the recovery of several high-powered firearms from them.

Mabanta said Jalandoni, a member of the NDFP National Executive Committee, is desperately trying to distort the truth behind the La Castellana massacre, that claimed the lives of nine persons, including a rookie policeman, and caused injuries to 12 others, and two other PNP members.

Jalandoni, in his statement, said “ The NPA was able to capture high-powered rifles, proving that the principal passengers and the vehicle were legitimate targets of the NPA”.

Citing investigations of the police and the testimonies of survivors, Mabanta said the civilians and the slain policeman were shot in the head, after having been initially shot.

He also dismissed as a “bluff” the warning of Jalandoni that the filing of war crime charges against those behind the massacre, could jeopardize the ongoing peace negotiations.

“The CPP-NPA-NDF leadership must surrender their members and those who ordered the ambush must be made accountable,” Mabanta added.

While all the stakeholders remain committed to pursuing the peace and development program of the government, the Philippine Army in Negros will continue to pursue the perpetrators of the La Castella massacre, and help the victims attain justice for their loved ones, he said.

The NDFP and the Communist Party of the Philippines also commended the NPA Leonardo Panaligan Command for offering humanitarian assistance to the victims and their families, despite what they alleged to be the culpability of the government for the incident and for issuing firearms to paramilitary men.

Family members of the victims, however, rejected the offer of the rebel group, stressing that what they want is justice.

The parties aggrieved by the La Castellana incident can seek redress under the Rules of the NPA, the policies of the Democratic People’s Government and provisions of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL), the CPP said in the statement it issued.

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2013/February/11/topstory3.htm