Twenty-two individuals tagged by authorities as members of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) are being indicted for alleged violation of the international humanitarian law (IHL).
The complainants were recently filed by government prosecutors in a local court here designated to hear cases involving violations of Republic Act No. 9851 which defines and penalizes crimes against IHL, genocide and other crimes against humanity.
The cases stemmed from three incidents allegedly perpetrated by communist guerrillas that victimized civilians and destroyed their properties in Bukidnon.
According to Bukidnon provincial prosecutor Rommel Alonto, 17 persons were charged with burning a sugarcane plantation and killing one police officer and wounding another on December 12, 2015 in Barangay New Eden of Pangantucan town.
The suspects were identified as alias Muling Micabalo; Lorna Micabalao alias Nancy; Juvilito Pontillas alias CJ, Tiga, and Juvy; Almer Calacar alias Niko; an alias Ka Yaya or LJ; Vicente Pontillas Jr. alias Bryan; Vicente Pontillas Sr. alias Ka Mulo; Warwen del Rosario alias Ka Agbon or Janin; Virgilio Canoy alias Bilyong; Reynaldo Libres alias Ariel; Bernie Hintapa alias Dodong Binao; Richard Libres; Dahulo Ortiz alias John; Lorena Micabalo alias Jayjay; Rosalie Omandam alias RR; Jonald Saludar alias Sam; and Emie Santa Ana alias Moring or Arabu.
Another four suspects, known only as alias Ladong, alias Mecmec, alias Nex, and alias Paling, were accused of killing a certain Jerson Blanza, son of a barangay official; and in the attempted killing Mark Dave Gabas, Ebenezer Abejuela, Love Tubongbanua, Jeter Gubaton, and Juliet Caburatan.
The four suspects are said to be members of the NPA’s Malayag Guerrilla Front.
Alonto said the victims were taking a bath in a spring in Barangay Spring Kawayan of San Fernando town on May 22, 2020 when the NPA guerrillas fired at them.
The third case involved an NPA commander known only as alias DR who allegedly killed Renato Labisto on June 7, 2020 in Barangay Linabo of Quezon town.
Alonto said all the suspects being indicted are still at-large.
He said the victims were “unarmed civilians … who have not participated in armed hostilities against the NPA” hence protected from attacks.
Alonto reminded parties to the armed conflict—the government armed forces and communist rebels—not to harm civilians who are not in any way connected to the armed hostilities.
Col. Ferdinand Barandon, commander of the Army’s 403rd Infantry Brigade, admitted that the military assisted the police in identifying witnesses, gathering evidence and protecting the security of the complainants and their families.
Barandon said their facilitating the filing of legal charges against the suspects is part of the Army’s effort to help end the local communist insurgency.
In November last year, the brigade also helped complainants in taking legal action against five NPA members who allegedly maltreated a village watchman while the guerrillas burned vehicles in Manolo Fortich town on May 28, 2019.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1331703/22-npa-fighters-face-raps-for-attacks-on-civilians-in-bukidnon
The complainants were recently filed by government prosecutors in a local court here designated to hear cases involving violations of Republic Act No. 9851 which defines and penalizes crimes against IHL, genocide and other crimes against humanity.
The cases stemmed from three incidents allegedly perpetrated by communist guerrillas that victimized civilians and destroyed their properties in Bukidnon.
According to Bukidnon provincial prosecutor Rommel Alonto, 17 persons were charged with burning a sugarcane plantation and killing one police officer and wounding another on December 12, 2015 in Barangay New Eden of Pangantucan town.
The suspects were identified as alias Muling Micabalo; Lorna Micabalao alias Nancy; Juvilito Pontillas alias CJ, Tiga, and Juvy; Almer Calacar alias Niko; an alias Ka Yaya or LJ; Vicente Pontillas Jr. alias Bryan; Vicente Pontillas Sr. alias Ka Mulo; Warwen del Rosario alias Ka Agbon or Janin; Virgilio Canoy alias Bilyong; Reynaldo Libres alias Ariel; Bernie Hintapa alias Dodong Binao; Richard Libres; Dahulo Ortiz alias John; Lorena Micabalo alias Jayjay; Rosalie Omandam alias RR; Jonald Saludar alias Sam; and Emie Santa Ana alias Moring or Arabu.
Another four suspects, known only as alias Ladong, alias Mecmec, alias Nex, and alias Paling, were accused of killing a certain Jerson Blanza, son of a barangay official; and in the attempted killing Mark Dave Gabas, Ebenezer Abejuela, Love Tubongbanua, Jeter Gubaton, and Juliet Caburatan.
The four suspects are said to be members of the NPA’s Malayag Guerrilla Front.
Alonto said the victims were taking a bath in a spring in Barangay Spring Kawayan of San Fernando town on May 22, 2020 when the NPA guerrillas fired at them.
The third case involved an NPA commander known only as alias DR who allegedly killed Renato Labisto on June 7, 2020 in Barangay Linabo of Quezon town.
Alonto said all the suspects being indicted are still at-large.
He said the victims were “unarmed civilians … who have not participated in armed hostilities against the NPA” hence protected from attacks.
Alonto reminded parties to the armed conflict—the government armed forces and communist rebels—not to harm civilians who are not in any way connected to the armed hostilities.
Col. Ferdinand Barandon, commander of the Army’s 403rd Infantry Brigade, admitted that the military assisted the police in identifying witnesses, gathering evidence and protecting the security of the complainants and their families.
Barandon said their facilitating the filing of legal charges against the suspects is part of the Army’s effort to help end the local communist insurgency.
In November last year, the brigade also helped complainants in taking legal action against five NPA members who allegedly maltreated a village watchman while the guerrillas burned vehicles in Manolo Fortich town on May 28, 2019.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1331703/22-npa-fighters-face-raps-for-attacks-on-civilians-in-bukidnon
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.