Stop killings, peace group urges

From the Visayan Daily Star (May 24): Stop killings, peace group urges

No more killings, please.

The appeal was made yesterday by a peace advocate group in Negros, that joined numerous calls to resolve the armed conflict in Negros island in a peaceful manner.

Alarmed by the spate of killings, with even civilians as targets for summary execution, the Kasanag Foundation, that has been a partner of the 303rd Infantry Brigade in the peace and development campaign for seven years now, also called other sectors of society to be part of the solution to the problem.

Within three weeks this month, three civilians and four Army soldiers were killed in separate incidents of summary execution, ambushes and raids, perpetrated and claimed by the New People's Army in Moises Padilla, Toboso and Sagay City,all in Negros Occidental.

John Chiong, Kasanag Foundation president, yesterday re-echoed the call of the Gov. Alfredo Maranon Jr. for the NPA in Negros to stop the killings, as incoming President Rodrigo Duterte is now inviting their top leaders to join his Cabinet.

The recent NPA raid on the bunk houses of agrarian reform beneficiaries in Brgy. General Luna in Sagay City, claimed the lives of two civilians and inflicted injuries to two others.

Chief Inspector Eduardo Corpuz, Sagay City police officer-in-charge, said yesterday that two of the rebel suspects, who had participated in the raid, have already been identified, based on testimonies of the captured government militiamen, who were later freed by the NPA.

Pursuit operations against the fleeing rebels are still underway.

In previous months, two policemen, a retired Army soldier and four government militiamen also died in an ambush and in summary executions in Candoni, Moises Padilla and Cauayan, responsibility for which had been also claimed by the NPA.

The Army's 303rd Infantry Brigade yesterday condemned the latest atrocities committed by the NPA in northern Negros.

Col. Francisco Delfin, 303rd IB commander, said yesterday that said the NPA is employing “terror tactics” in areas where they have lost influence over the people.

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2016/May/24/topstory3.htm