CPP/Ang Bayan: NDFP to investigate Masbate incident

Propaganda article from the English language edition of Ang Bayan posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Jun 21, 2021): NDFP to investigate Masbate incident

The National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) is investigating the involvement of civilians in the armed action mounted by the New People’s Army (NPA)-Masbate on June 6 in Barangay Anas, Masbate City.

According to the NDFP, such investigation is its obligation under the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) which it signed with the the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP). The investigation is being conducted under the laws and regulations of the people’s democratic government and the people’s army. Should there be a criminal charge (whether intended or not), those involved can either be court-martialed or tried by the people’s court.

The NDFP clarified its jurisdiction after the AFP and the Duterte regime insisted the NPA to “turn over” those responsible. It said that the GRP has no legal and moral right to investigate or try any member of the revolutionary movement, even if proven guilty. The appropriate mechanism for this should be undertaken by Joint Monitoring Committee which the NDFP has long demanded the GRP to respect.

Earlier, the NPA-Masbate and NPA-Bicol expressed their deepest condolences and self-criticism over the death of cousins Kieth, 21, and Nolven Absalon, 40, and the wounding of Nolven’s 16-year old child. While expressing self-criticism, the NPA-Bicol asked the Absalon family for forgiveness and expressed its willingness to extend appropriate indemnification. According to initial reports, the victims were riding their bicycle when a landmine exploded on their way. They died on the spot. The younger Absalon was a student while his cousin worked for an electricity cooperative in the city.

Amid this, the NDFP criticized the AFP for using the incident to peddle false information regarding the legitimate use of command-detonated landmines under international laws.

The leadership of the Communist Party of the Philippines and the NPA also expressed its sincere apologies to the family. It said that the NPA unit must critically probe the incident and identify its weaknesses and errors during the incident in order to correct these.

[Ang Bayan is the official news organ of the Communist Party of the Philippines and is issued by the CPP Central Committee. It provides news about the work of the Party as well as its analysis of and views on current issues. Ang Bayan comes out fortnightly and is published in Pilipino, Bisaya, Ilokano, Waray, Hiligaynon and English.]

https://cpp.ph/2021/06/21/ndfp-to-investigate-masbate-incident/