AFP to file charges vs rebels in Bukidnon attack

Sun Star-Cagayan de Oro (Jan 20, 2019): AFP to file charges vs rebels in Bukidnon attack

THE military is set to file charges against a New People’s Army (NPA) unit responsible for the burning of a farm equipment owned by a private firm in Valencia City, Bukidnon, Friday, January 18.

Captain Ryan Layug, civil military operations officer of the 403rd Infantry Brigade, said the army troops are still determining the identities of the communist rebels who attacked civilians and destroyed the property of Dole plantation in Lilingayon, Valencia City.
Layug said around 20 members of Guerilla Front 68 held a Martigani Spray Truck of Dole Plantation. The driver and a civilian security personnel were freed after their mobile phones were carted away.

The troops arrived an hour later and discovered that the said truck was already burned by the NPA fighters.

Layug said the attack launched by the NPA against civilians and destruction of civilian properties was part of their retaliation “after they are defeated in many battles”.

“But why retaliate sa civilians kailangan nilang sagutin yan. Ngano gidamay nila civilians,” Layug said.

Layug said the NPA unit will face charges in violation of the International Humanitarian Law (IHL).

The military also said the top officials of the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines-National Democratic Front (CPP-NDF) must impose punishment against the responsible NPA unit for violating the IHL.

“Yung actions ng ground commander ng NPA violates the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect to Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) so we expect their higher ups to impose punishment sa local ground commanders nila,” Layug said.

Layug also said the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) will assist the company in filing the cases against the NPA.

“Since violation ito ng IHL ang CHR is mandated to receive and handle the complaint,”he added.

For his part, 403IB commander Colonel Edgardo De Leon has condemned the act of terror by the NPA.

“We strongly condemn the act of CPP-NPA terrorists for its blatant disregard of IHL despite signing an agreement to respect IHL. The NPA terrorist, with the guidance of their leaders, still continue to attack civilians and their properties,” De Leon said.

De Leon said, “These attacks only fuel our utmost desire to protect our people from these thugs.”

But, he said the military needs the cooperation of the public in ensuring that these NPA atrocities will be preempted.

Major General Ronald Villanueva, commander of the 4th Infantry Division, said “the NDFP that signed CARHRIHL representing the NPA must be made to explain why the NPA attacked a civilian-owned farm equipment. What is the “direct participation” of the farm equipment in the armed conflict between the AFP and the NPA? The NDF and the NPA must provide a clear answer,” Villanueva said.

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1783736