Outrage over ambush of civilians by NPA

From the Manila Bulletin (Dec 2): Outrage over ambush of civilians by NPA

They were just coming from a thanksgiving celebration of a local Baptist church Sunday and were able to hitch a ride home to Barangay Marfil, Rosario, Agusan del Sur onboard their barangay’s ambulance – all six adults and eight children.

They left the Wayside Bible Baptist Church at around 5 p.m. and just 30 minutes later, four were killed and four others, including an eight-year-old girl, lay injured at Road 2, Sitio Latay of the same locality – victims of a senseless ambush by New People’s Army (NPA) rebels belonging to the Guerilla Front 14 of the insurgent group operating in the areas of Agusan and Surigao del Sur.

This Front is reportedly headed by Front Secretary Leonida Belarmino Sanchez, alias Monik or Susay, with Randy Dondon Subla, also known as Nice; Ariel Conejar Ornale, alias Charlie, Jorlan or Brylle; and Renato Sayasat, also known as Friday.

Killed on the spot were Neljoy Cerna, 27, and Noni Mabong, 51, while Alfredo Cerna, 51, and Vanessa Sabas, 30, expired while being treated for gunshot wounds at the hospital.

Eight-year-old Mae Roselyn Adonis was among those wounded that included Liza Casilla, 47, Elmer Adonis, 37 and Emilio Solidor Jr., 49.

This latest NPA ambush was described as “barbaric and terroristic’ by the Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) as it pointed out that the communist insurgents “demonstrated anew their most dreaded character of killing innocent civilians in pursuit of an irrelevant and violent cause.”

“This is a blatant violation of the International Humanitarian Law that the NPAs have sworn to observe,” said Lt. General Aurelio Baladad, commander of Eastmincom.

Baladad added that the NPAs’ pledge to follow the International Humanitarian Law (IHL) was nothing but empty talk as demonstrated by this merciless ambush of civilians.

“This is how the NPAs celebrate the Human Rights Week that we celebrate now,” Baladad charged.

He also directed the 4th Infantry Division to “run after the perpetrators and to file appropriate charges in court against them”.

Maj. Gen. Oscar T. Lactao, commander of the 4th Infantry Division had equally harsh words for the communist insurgents.

“This is clear evidence that NPAs are more than just criminals but a terrorist group. I strongly condemn this terroristic attack of the NPAs that killed civilians and wounding others on board an ambulance. These people came from a thanksgiving mass and were probably praying for peace in their community but these godless NPAs attacked them,” Lactao said.

As such, Lactao urged the Philippine National Police (PNP), Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and the Church to investigate the terroristic attack.

“These NPAs must be put behind bars. We cannot just let them roam around and threaten the peace-loving people of Mindanao,” he said.

http://www.mb.com.ph/outrage-over-ambush-of-civilians-by-npa/