Lawsuit vs La Castellana ambush suspect up for amendment

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 6): Lawsuit vs La Castellana ambush suspect up for amendment

The Negros Occidental Provincial Police Office (NOPPO) will amend the criminal complaint it recently filed against one of the suspected squad leaders of New People’s Army behind the ambush-massacre in Barangay Puso, La Castellana last month.

Nine counts of murder and 14 counts of frustrated murder were filed against Magno Flores, head of Squad 2 of NPA operating in Central Negros, in the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office on Tuesday, according to NOPPO Director Senior Supt. Celestino Guara.

But the official said that they were advised by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process (OPPAP) to include in the lawsuit the suspect’s violation of Republic Act 9851 or the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity.

Guara expressed hope that the additional charges will give weight to their complaint as they work to give justice to the death of their slain colleague and eight other civilians. Aside from Flores, Guara said they might as well include as respondents other members of the communist group following the release of their tape-recorded public apology.

NPA Leonardo Panaligan Command has claimed responsibility for the recent ambush but insisted that killing the civilians was beyond their plan. JB Regalado, the rebels' spokesperson, said their original plan was to only disarm the policemen and members of the Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team.

Based on the testimonies of witnesses, Guara said they are also investigating persons who possibly acted as the group’s accomplices since the rebels allegedly stayed overnight in one of the houses in the village before they staged the ambush.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=494943