3ID head slams CPP-NPA Terrorist for killing Tapaz village peace advocate

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 3, 2021): 3ID head slams CPP-NPA Terrorist for killing Tapaz village peace advocate (By Jemin B. Guillermo)

ILOILO CITY, March 2 (PIA) -- The Philippine Army strongly condemned the killing of a barangay Captain in Tapaz, Capiz which was perpetrated by the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) Terrorist.

Army’s 3rd Infantry (Spearhead) Division commander Major General Eric Vinoya expressed his strong condemnation to the strongest possible terms the cruelty of the CPP-NPA Terrorist against Roosevelt Punong Barangay Julie Catamin who was shot to death in the morning of February 28,2021.



“We are one with the people of Tapaz in condemning the cruelty of the CPP-NPA Terrorist against the active public servant and peace advocate in the town," Vinoya said in a press release from the 3ID’s Public Affairs Office.

He added that Catamin’s death is a strong evidence of the CPP-NPA’s blatant violation of human rights.

“Mercilessly killing an unarmed public servant is one of their violent ways; a desperate move that only the cold-blooded communist-terrorist groups can execute especially when they are losing the people’s trust and confidence,” Vinoya stressed.

He also slammed the communist-terrorists and their allied groups for quickly pointing their guilty fingers to the government forces as perpetrators.

“We are not new to this tricky tactic of the Communist-Terrorists. Blaming the government forces is their usual ploy every time a crime is committed by their members. They cannot fool the people of Tapaz through their fabricated stories for they are the ones who have solid motive to kill the pro-government village chairman,” added Vinoya.

Under the leadership of Catamin, the residents of Barangay Roosevelt took a bold step against the CPP-NPA Terrorist by declaring them as “persona-non-grata” last September 15, 2020.

He has been very supportive of the programs under the Executive Order No. 70 of the government in ending the local communist armed conflict.

The slain Punong Barangay has supported the Community Support Program of the Army in Panay and has been instrumental in the success of the said program in his barangay.

“Catamin’s reputable deeds that have greatly contributed to the success of the government’s peace campaign will help us bring these communist-terrorists to justice,” Vinoya said.

Vinoya added “He may be gone but his passing will not stop the people of Tapaz and your Army in pursuing the genuine peace by putting the senseless and destructive insurgency to its end.”

Earlier, Tapaz mayor Roberto Palomar has also condemned the cowardly act perpetrated by the criminals against village chief Catamin.

“I strongly condemn the cowardly act perpetrated by the criminals towards Barangay Captain Julie Catamin. I said cowardly because death advances their causes only by instilling fear and terror among us but they will not succeed,” Palomar said.

The mayor stressed that Catamin is a true public servant and among the barangay officials who advocated peace and development. (PIA6/3ID Public Affairs Office)

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1068301