NPA attack on civilians condemned

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Human Rights (CHR), Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines and other government officials condemned the recent New People’s Army (NPA) ambush in Eastern Samar which killed a policeman and two civilians and wounded up to a dozen others, including three minors.

CHR spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia said they will conduct an independent investigation of the case, noting reports claiming that students were involved in the incident.

“The Commission on Human Rights strongly condemns the ambush in Libuton, Borongan, Eastern Samar by alleged members of New People’s Army,” she said.

“We denounce such acts of deliberate and arbitrary killing by the armed opposition group, as the use of disproportionate and indiscriminate force in armed conflict is a direct violation of international humanitarian law,” De Guia added.

PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac called the latest act as “un-Christian terror” by the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing.

“This only shows the insincerity of the CPP-NPA to give peace a chance,” Banac said in a statement.

The PNP said justice will be served for killed and injured personnel and that it holds accountable those behind the attack.

“We will not let this pass without any action that will bring to account all those behind this despicable act against the people. The full might of the law will take its course,” Banac added.

Capt. Reynaldo Aragones Jr., spokesman of the Catbalogan City-based 8th Infantry Division, said, “The treacherous attack was part of the Communist Party of the Philippines forthcoming founding anniversary this Dec. 26.”

He added that it’s about time for the people in Samar to rise up against the NPA’s atrocities.

“This is no longer a fight between your security forces and the NPAs but a fight of the entire people in Eastern Visayas. These rebels don’t value life. They don’t have a conscience,” Aragones continued.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar condemned the attack and lamented that it came after President Duterte allowed Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III to look anew into the possibility of resuming talks with the CPP.

“The loss of life and the violence experienced by the victims are reprehensible. We can only imagine the grief of their loved ones who would have spent the Christmas season with them in good health, had it not been for the senseless act of these terrorists. Our thoughts go out to all of you in this difficult time,” he said.

Andanar is also the communications chief of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).

“We will continue to communicate and engage with local officials and civil society groups and convey the government’s resolve to end conflict,” he said.

Sen. Imee Marcos strongly condemned the ambush and said there is a need for the implementation of a Christmas ceasefire between the government and the NPA to prevent any more violence which affects innocent civilians.

“In the long run, peace talks with Joma Sison should be revived by the government so that no innocent civilian would be caught between the war of these two groups,” Marcos said in Filipino.

Reports said on Friday at around 4 p.m., five policemen – detailed at the 1st Eastern Samar Provincial Mobile Force Company based in Brgy. Lunang, Dolores, Eastern Samar – were onboard their patrol vehicle headed for police provincial headquarters in Eastern Samar when, upon reaching a road at Barangay Libuton in Borongan City, were met with a blast from a suspected landmine or improvised explosive device and gunfire from armed NPA rebels.

A group of civilians onboard a tricycle following the patrol car were caught in the blast.

The fatalities were identified as Patrolman Mark Jerome Rama and 69-year-old civilian Agripena Avilla Traboco who were killed on the spot, and civilian driver Anthony Balayanto who later succumbed to gunshot wounds at the hospital.

At least 12 other civilians, including three minors, one of whom is a one-year-old, were wounded in the attack.

The wounded policemen were identified as Pat. Ric Capoquian Jr., Pat. Kevin Operario, Pat. Angelito Luterte and Pat. Rey Sobrepena.

Eastern Samar Governor Ben Evardone, who is chairman of the Regional Peace and Order Council in Eastern Visayas, was appalled at the heinous act of terror while thanking those who came to the victims’ aid.

“We express our gratitude to the police and emergency personnel, as well as the private individuals who put their own lives at risk to selflessly help and protect others. This attack only strengthens our resolve to bolster counterterrorism efforts and achieve real and lasting peace in our province,” he said in a statement.

The AFP has declared that it will no longer recommend to the President the declaration of a unilateral ceasefire against the NPAs this Christmas and New Year.

The attack comes as the government is trying to resume formal peace talks with the CPP, with President Duterte and CPP founder Jose Maria Sison supposedly having agreed to a face-to-face meeting.

A unilateral ceasefire was even brought up for the holiday season, according to Bello.

Bello said yesterday that the NPA attack in Eastern Samar will not affect the possible resumption of peace talks with the communists.

“There will be no impact because there is no ongoing ceasefire. There is no violation whatsoever,” he told The STAR. -Janvic Mateo, Romina Cabrera, Jaime Laude, Miriam Desacada, Sheila Crisostomo, Christina Mendez, Edith Regalado, Cecille Suerte Felipe