RESS RELEASE
NDFP International Information Office
25 July 2007


Philippine Army mercilessly kills own men in Agusan del Norte; 
NDFP enjoins victims’ families to seek justice


The National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) in North
 Central Mindanao strongly condemned the ongoing cover-up operations of the
 Philippine Army about the death of five elements of the paramilitary
 Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU), treacherously murdered by
 elements of the 29th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army (IB-PA)
 on 28 June 2007, in Barangay Kinamaybay, Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte,
 in southern Philippines.

Cesar Renerio, spokesperson of the NDFP-North Central Mindanao,
 clarified that no armed encounter occurred between the NPA and the fascist
 military on 28 June anywhere in Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte. Renerio
 denounced Major Samuel Sagun, spokesperson of the 4th Infantry Division,
 PA, who claimed that the NPA ambushed and murdered the hapless CAFGU
 elements.

“No such ambush happened,” Renerio stated. “Those hapless CAFGUs
 were treacherously murdered by the soldiers of the 29th IB, 402nd
 Brigade who, unable to avenge the loss of 14 assorted firearms and the death
 of their cadreman, vented their ire instead on the CAFGUs who went
 with them in their pursuit operations.”

The victims were identified as Joel Bilayong, Albert Tanyo, Humoc
 Tinabla, Legal Mansinugdan and Junie Bilayong, all adult male, married, and
 armed elements of the CAFGU in Bgy. Lawan-lawan, Las Nieves. They were
 part of the 29th IB-PA conducting military operations against the New
 People’s Army (NPA) in the area. Witnesses and grief-stricken families
 of the victims revealed to local radio stations that the Philippine
 Army elements murdered their kin as retribution for the 27 June NPA raid
 on the CAFGU detachment in Bgy. Lawan-lawan. They said their kin were
 accused of sympathizing with the NPA.

In the early hours of 27 June, a platoon-sized unit of the NPA’s
 Cesar Cayon Command attacked the CAFGU detachment of Bgy. Lawan-lawan,
 resulting in the seizure of 14 assorted high-powered firearms and the death
 of the detachment commander, Sgt. Romeo Eufemia of the Philippine
 Army.

Renerio said that the families of the murdered CAFGUs were later forced
 by military officials to recant the revelations they made to the local
 media. He also said that five more CAFGU elements of Bgy. Lawan-lawan
 have decided to leave their families and are now in hiding, “fearing
 that they will be targeted next” by the vengeful Philippine Army.

In August 2006, fourteen CAFGU elements were imprisoned inside the 4th
 Infantry Divisiion stockade in Camp Evangelista, Cagayan de Oro City,
 after a successful raid of the NPA on a CAFGU detachment in Banlag,
 Valencia City. To this date, they remain imprisoned in the camp without
 formal charges.

The NDFP in North Central Mindanao enjoined the families and relatives
 of the victims to demand an impartial investigation over the 28 June
 incident and seek justice for their murdered kin. #


REFERENCE:
Ruth de Leon
Executive Director
NDFP International Information Office
Tel.+31-30-2310431
Fax +31-84-7589930
Email: ndf@casema.nl

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