Army, local execs blast NPA beheading of Surigao militiaman

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 18, 2019): Army, local execs blast NPA beheading of Surigao militiaman



NPA ATROCITY. A relative of Ryard Badiang, a former communist rebel turned Civilian Auxiliary Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU), identifies his clothing a day after the military recovered his remains in a mountainous village in Tandag City last Friday (June 14). Badiang was abducted along with six other people on May 30 by the New People's Army and was likely killed by the rebels days after he was kidnapped. (Photo courtesy of the Army's 402nd Infantry Brigade)

Local and military officials in Surigao del Sur condemned the communist rebels' beheading of a militiaman, who was one of the seven persons abducted by the New People's Army (NPA) late last month.

Government forces found the beheaded remains of Ryard Badiang, a former NPA member turned Civilian Auxiliary Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU) member, on Friday (June 14) in Barangay Maitum, Tandag City, the Army's 402nd Infantry Brigade said in a statement over the weekend.
Badiang, a member of the Manobo tribe, was abducted by the NPA along with six other civilians in the Lanuza town in Surigao del Sur on May 30.

The kidnap victims were freed after several days, except for Badiang.

In a statement released Monday, Lanuza Mayor Salvacion Azarcon described the NPA's beheading of Badiang as "degrading the value of human life."

The NPA, Azarcon said, "killed Ryan like an animal."

"I offer our deepest condolences to the grieving family. It is our regret that the CNTs (communist NPA terrorists) resort to a barbaric act unacceptable in a civilized community," the mayor said.

According to the military, Badiang was a resident of Barangay Mampi in Lanuza, where he was assigned at a CAFGU patrol base and where the rebels abducted him and six other residents.

Col. Maurito Licudine, 402nd IB commander, described Badiang's killing as "another horrific act and blatant disrespect of human rights."

Licudine said Badiang's killing and other atrocities involving the NPA were "a desperate attempt of the CNTs targeting civilians and unarmed off-based duty CAFGUs without the capacity to defend themselves".

The NPA, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1072686