Communist rebels violated human rights, election laws during Guingona ambush, AFP says

From InterAksyon (Apr 22): Communist rebels violated human rights, election laws during Guingona ambush, AFP says

New People's Army (NPA) rebels violated several provisions of election and human rights laws when they ambushed the convoy of Gingoog City Mayor Ruthie Guingona last Saturday, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said Monday.

The armed group of the Philippines' communist party committed nine violations of several laws including Republic Act 9851 or the Act Defining and Penalizing Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Crimes Against Humanity, Colonel Arnulfo Burgos Jr., AFP spokesman, said on Monday.

The NPA also went against Republic Act 9262 or the law against Violence Against Women and Children; the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; the Comprehensive Agreement on the Respect of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law, Ombnibus Election Code; murder and frustrated murder, among others.

The NPA has apologized for attacking the convoy of Guingona late Saturday, wounding her and a policeman and killing two civilians. However, it claimed that the mayor's convoy fired at them first.

Guingona's group was on its way back to the city proper after attending a fiesta in Upper Kapitulangan when the ambush took place.

The AFP's Human Rights Office chief, Brigadier General Domingo Tutaan Jr. said the NPA's continued attack has affected the lives of civilians and has hampered growth of communities.

"The Filipino people demand justice for this horrendous act. Much more, the whole nation is asking the NPA to stop their so-called armed struggle," he said.

The AFP vowed to pursue the rebels behind the attack while adhering to humanitarian laws.

Major General Ricardo Rainier Cruz, commander of the AFP's Eastern Mindanao Command, said troops encountered the rebels Sunday night but reported no casualties.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/60035/communist-rebels-violated-human-rights-election-laws-during-guingona-ambush-afp-says