AFP not ruling out CPP hand in NegOCC massacre

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 24): AFP not ruling out CPP hand in NegOCC massacre

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is not discounting the involvement of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) in the massacre of nine people in Sagay City, Negros Occidental last October 20.

AFP chief-of-staff Gen. Carlito Galvez, Jr. said this during a press briefing held in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City Wednesday afternoon.

"Results of the initial investigation revealed three possible scenarios that may have led to the incident. Authorities are looking at the involvement of other land claimants, the landowner’s private army, and the CPP-NPA," Galvez said.

Galvez said a thorough investigation is already ongoing to establish the identities and motives of the suspects behind the crime.

"Various government agencies including the Philippine National Police (PNP), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) are jointly working in the probe," he added.

What is known as of this time is that the victims are all recruits of the National Federation of Sugar Workers (NFSW), a front organization of the CPP-NPA, the AFP chief said.

"In fact, they were recruited, after paying PHP500 for one hectare of land, less than two days before the incident," Galvez added.

According to the families, residents, and local authorities in the area, the victims are not workers in the farm or claimants to the land.

"The DAR also claimed the victims are not entitled beneficiaries. They were brought there by their recruiters from the NFSW who left just before the shooting happened," Galvez said.

He added this incident highlights earlier reports the CPP has been hatching plans to oust the Duterte Administration along with rebel efforts to spark civil unrest and discredit the government.

This is part of the CPP's "Oplan Bungkalan", a nationwide campaign to mobilize farm workers to rally for the cause of the communists alleged as a struggle for agrarian reform, is taking advantage of farmers and using them as bait, Galvez pointed out.

"By manipulating, deceiving, and exploiting the needs of these farmers, the NFSW endangered the lives of these farmers by pitting them against the landowner and other land claimants in the area, with the end of jumpstarting an orchestrated nationwide protest by leftist groups," he added.

Also, the AFP chief said he is convinced that when the conclusive findings of the investigation have been released, the CPP-NPA and its puppet organization NFSW will have blood on their hands.

"As to the alleged involvement of the AFP in the killing of nine farmers, DAR Secretary John Castriciones has already categorically denied the AFP and the police’s involvement in the killings and clarified the incident is a land conflict," he added.

Galvez also called on leftist groups to substantiate their allegations and refrain from politicizing the incident to give the families reprieve.

"While the investigation is ongoing, we have extended our sincerest condolences to the victims’ families and we have committed to provide any assistance to ensure that justice will be served, and perpetrators will be put behind bars," he added.

Galvez said the AFP, DAR, Department of Social Welfare and Development, and the Sagay City government are now working together to give immediate and long-term aid for the victims’ families and to ensure that justice will be served.

"The government and its security forces will work together to resolve the social cancer and land conflict in the area. The AFP is one with the farming communities of Negros and the whole country in these trying times. We call on all workers to be more perceptive and vigilant to protect their interests from being exploited by front organizations of the CPP-NPA and by personalities who may use the incident as leverage for their political ambitions," the AFP chief said.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1052010