NPA admits to Negros Occidental firefight that killed civilans, but insists victims fired first

From InterAksyon (Feb 4): NPA admits to Negros Occidental firefight that killed civilans, but insists victims fired first

The New People's Army (NPA) has admitted to killing nine people, mostly civilians, in La Castellana, Negros Occidental, on January 27, but insisted that the victims fired at them first.

A report from the Visayan Daily Star quoted Ka JB Regalado, spokesman of the NPA's Leonardo Panaligan Command, as apologizing for the incident, including the wounding of a 14-year-old boy.

Regalado, in the report, said the NPA would undertake disciplinary actions against their military unit responsible for the incident as it was a violation of the NPA rules and the Comprehensive Agreement on Human Rights and International Laws (CAHRIHL).

The NPA even offered "assistance" to the relatives of the victims.

He said the rebels had no intention of killing the people on board the truck that morning. They only wanted to disarm the people but were fired upon first, Regalado said.

The relatives of the victims, however, rejected the offer of the NPA. The wife of slain truck driver Enrique Dingcong said the killings were brutal and inhumane. She said P9,000 in her husband's wallet was apparently also stolen by the rebels.

Regalado denied reports the victims were all shot in the head.

Colonel Oscar Lactao, commander of the Army's 303rd Infantry Brigade, slammed the offer of assistance by the rebels.

"It is not money we are talking about here; it is the loss of loved ones, of the victims' right to live, and it is about justice," he said.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/54251/npa-admits-to-negros-occidental-firefight-that-killed-civilans-but-insists-victims-fired-first