• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (ID) has strongly condemned the remnants of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Negros Island for the brutal murder of 28 innocent civilians since March last year.
“Terror, no ideology,” the 3ID said of the series of killings perpetrated and claimed by the NPA.
In a statement, the 3ID led by Maj. Gen. Michael Samson called on the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and all human rights advocates to look into these crimes, investigate thoroughly, and help the victims achieve rightful justice.
“The perpetrators must be held accountable and brought to justice,” Samson said, adding that the spare of killings are “not isolated incidents, but a systematic attack on the dignity and safety of ordinary citizens”.
The latest victim was Leonara Anguit, 74, of Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, whose death was claimed by the NPA Armando Sumayang Jr. Command.
All the victims were accused by the communist-terrorist group as military spies.
Samson said the victims are not combatants, but are actually farmers, peasants, and elders, whose only crime was choosing peace over violence.
Data gathered by the 3ID indicated that an average of two people have been killed each month.
“While they claim to fight for social justice, their actions reveal a group desperate to maintain relevance through bloodshed,” Samson said. | GB
