NDF hit for justifying La Castellana ambush

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 13): NDF hit for justifying La Castellana ambush

Major General Jose Mabanta Jr. of the 3rd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army on Wednesday slammed the National Democratic Front (NDF)for justifying the killing of nine people in La Castellana last January 27.

“There is no way you can justify that,” Mabanta stressed in response to statement of NDF chief negotiator Luis Jalandoni who claimed that ambush staged by the New People’s Army was "legitimate."

Jalandoni said the ambush was directed to “legitimate targets” – the policeman and eight members of the Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team (BPAT) – tagged as “paramilitaries."

But Mabanta explained in a press conference Wednesday that most of the victims are not paramilitaries but civilians. Even the slain policeman cannot be considered as paramilitary. Only the military auxiliary force known as Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU) is considered as paramilitary, he said.

“Majority of the victims are civilians. Nakisakay lang sila but they were finished off by shooting them point blank in their heads,” Mabanta stressed.

Mabanta also said that the ambush in La Castellana cannot prevent both parties from pursuing their impending peace talks. “This should not be a stumbling block. We continue to call for localized peace talk. In fact, our communication lines are open,” he said.

The 3rd ID commander said they continue to ask help from all stakeholders concerned to link them with the rebels so they can start the peace talk in a civilized and orderly manner. “We will never lose hope in attaining peace...if we can’t do it on the top level, we’ll do it on our level. We are willing to talk even to the lowest NPA foot soldier,” he said.

As to the proposed rewards, Mabanta said he is certain that the government will offer rewards to anybody who can help them catch or neutralize the responsible NPA officials.

The Negros Occidental Provincial Police Office (NOPPO) has filed nine counts of murder and 14 counts of frustrated murder against the primary suspect Magno Flores, the head of Squad 2 of NPA operating in Central Negros.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=497045