Army condemns NPAs for blaming military of rights violation the rebels committed

From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 18): Army condemns NPAs for blaming military of rights violation the rebels committed

The Army here has condemned the New People's Army and its sympathizers for "always" blaming the military with concocted stories of human rights violations.

Lt. Colonel Nilo Vinluan, commander of the 57th Infantry Battalion, also criticized the communist guerrillas for using weapons of mass destruction which had been banned in the Philippines under the Geneva Convention.

"They (NPAs) still regularly use landmines or improvised bombs planted along road sides which are very dangerous and fatal for civilians in remote communities in North Cotabato," Vinluan over DXND Radyo Bida interview.

"That is a very clear violation of human rights of civilians who would accidentally step on the landmines," he added.

Vinluan said that Wednesday morning, the NPAs planted two land mines in Barangay Datu Magtangkil, Arakan, North Cotabato with the belief that the military will pass through the dirt road network.

Nobody was hurt in the 5:20 a.m. blast which came three days after the NPAs set off two improvised roadside bombs in the same village following an encounter between 57th IB and communist rebels.

Vinluan said his battalion headquarters situated in Makilala, North Cotabato is open to any group who have complaints against military abuses.

"I will not allow my men to violate human rights of the very same people we were committed to protect," he said, inviting human rights group to come and see him.

"We are all Filipinos, we have the same faith and culture, we may differ in ideas but we should not resort to violence for it will not solve misunderstanding," Vinluan added.

Vinluan also urged "some barangay officials" to be truly public servants and serve the majority of their constituents and not a few people.

"To some local leaders in our area of jurisdiction, we all work in government and our loyalty should be with the people and not those who are anti-people, like the NPAs," he said.

Vinluan said some barangay officials would not report to the police or the military about the presence of the rebels in their communities.

"When we ask them about armed men in their areas, they would say none but when the Army came over they were ambushed," Vinluan said.

Vinluan who assumed office as new unit chief this month said the 57th IB has been transformed as "people's battalion" where ordinary folks can come and join us in the universal campaign for peace.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=597942