NPA denies killings,blames ‘death squad’

From the Visayan Daily Star (Jul 31, 2019): NPA denies killings,blames ‘death squad’

The New People’s Army yesterday blamed the killing of 17 civilians and local officials in Negros Oriental on state security forces and an alleged Duterte death squad.

Ka Ann Jacinto, deputy spokesperson of the Leonardo Panaligan Command, also said the NPA was not responsible for the killing of Former Ayungon Mayor Edsel Enardecido and his cousin, Leo Enardecido, in Ayungon, and Councilor Bobby Jalandoni and Barangay Captain Ernesto Posadas in Canlaon City, Negros Oriental, on Saturday.

They were officials who were good to the people, they were not NPA targets, there was no reason to subject them to revolutionary justice, she told the DAILY STAR in a telephone interview.

She said the slain officials stood by the cause of the people and were anti-mining advocates.

It was not the NPA that spray painted messages on the houses of those slain claiming responsibility for the killings, Jacintoalso said.

“We do not write messages on walls when we carry out revolutionary justice, we issue official statements,” she said.

The fielding of more than 300 Special Action Force troops and the series of killingsin Negros Oriental is a build up to the declaration of martial law in the province, and eventually the entire country, she claimed.

The Duterte forces are conditioning the minds of the people for the declaration of martial law, Jacinto said.

The military claim that they are looking into the involvement of an anti-Communist vigilante group is absurd, the killings are being perpetrated by forces who are part of state security forces, she claimed.

‘PROPAGANDA’

Brig. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, said the NPA accusation that state security forces and a Duterte death squad are behind the killings in Negros Oriental, is their usual propaganda.

“They don’t have credibility to speak that way considering that one thing is clear and that is, the NPAs are responsible for many of the killings. There is a reported presence of a vigilante group or even individuals who are victims NPA atrocities and are retaliating to the NPA atrocities,” he said.

Arevalo said he publicly announced in Negros Oriental that the Army will not tolerate these actions as nobody is above the law.

Arevalo said he instructed the 94th Infantry Battalion to prevent the NPA and other groups from perpetrating the killings. “I’ve given tactical and operational instructions to the 94th to see to it that these incidents will be prevented,” Arevalo said.

GUV REACTS

Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said a declaration of martial law is a decision that would be made by the national government, and he hopes that the situation in Negros Oriental does not reach that point.

The national government and the PNP are already acting on the killings, he said, citing the sending in of more SAF troops.

“I hope these incidents in Negros Oriental will not spill over to Negros Occidental, he said, pointing out that it is also the concern of the military and police who are acting on the matter.

He also reiterated that the local governments of Negros Occidental are coming up with an action planin Septemberto help reduce the insurgency problem.

“We will address concerns that will lead to peace and order,” he said.

Lacson said he joins the call of the bishops for prayers that the killings in Negros Oriental will stop and will not happen in Negros Occidental.

Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer said he also hopes the killings in Negros Oriental do not happen in Negros Occidental because the province is promoting tourism and inviting investors to come to the province.

“Let us pray that they do not happen here,” Ferrer said.

Ferrer, who condemned the killings, said it has to be determined who are responsible for them.

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2019/July/31/topstory1.htm