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PRESS RELEASE
Information Bureau
Communist Party of the Philippines
Consecutive killings are 8th
ID's reprisals against civilians because of NPA successes against Oplan
Bantay Laya
September 9, 2009
The Efren Martires Command of the New People's Army in Eastern Visayas
today expressed outrage at the brutal killings of peasant activist Romulo
Mendoba and Fr. Cecilio Lucero, Catubig parish priest and director of the
Catarman diocese's Social Action Center. Mendoba was killed on Sept. 5 in
front of his family in Basey, Western Samar while Fr. Lucero died in an
ambush on Sept. 6 in San Jose, Northern Samar. "We in the NPA are outraged
at these killings of innocent civilians," said Ka Karlos Manuel, EMC
spokesperson. "Mendoba was just a peasant activist whom the military
accused of joining the successful Aug. 30 NPA raid of a CAFGU detachment
in Basey, while Fr. Lucero was a well-known human rights advocate. The
Arroyo government endorses such cowardly political killings as part and
parcel of Oplan Bantay Laya; in the case of Fr. Lucero, no less than
Gloria Arroyo herself had shown public displeasure at his human rights
campaign. It also goes to show that while the NPA is successful in its
offensives against legitimate targets, the 8th ID on the other hand is
stepping up reprisals against defenseless civilians in violation of the
laws of war. It underscores that while the NPA is fighting a just war, the
8th ID is carrying on not only an unjust war but also a dirty one at that
as well."
Manuel pointed out that the 8th ID is reeling from consecutive losses at
the hands of the NPA regionwide, but losing on the battlefield is no
excuse for the military to attack civilians. "Since March, the 8th ID has
lost the equivalent of almost two platoons killed in action and many more
wounded in action, while the NPA suffered minimal casualties and also
seized at least 20 firearms. Apart from its Basey raid where at least ten
firearms were seized, the Arnulfo Ortiz Command in Western Samar reported
that two soldiers from the 34th IB were killed in two encounters with the
NPA in March, and five more from the same battalion were killed by NPA
snipers last May 23 in Brgy. Bay-ang, San Jorge. Meanwhile, the Rodante
Urtal Command in Northern Samar reported that two soldiers were killed and
eight firearms seized in the May 30 raid on a military detachment in Brgy.
Polangi, Catarman. The RUC also states that at least 20 elements of the
20th IB were killed on three separate skirmishes with the NPA last June 15
and June 17 in Bobon and Catarman. In Eastern Samar, the Sergio Lobina
Command reported that five soldiers of the 14th IB were killed in an NPA
defensive action last June 4 in Brgy. Caglaw-an, Dolores. On the other
hand, the Mt. Amandewin Command in Leyte reported that at least 10
soldiers were killed in a series of NPA military actions in June and
July."
The EMC spokesperson warned that a fresh wave of political killings is in
the offing after the deaths of Mendoba and Lucero, and also because of the
secretive Balikatan military training of the 8th ID troops by US Army
Special Forces last August. "We are concerned that more civilians will be
victimized because Mendoba and Fr. Lucero were targeted after the 8th ID's
losses were mounting. To take just one example, the residents of Brgy.
Cagbana, Burauen, Leyte have publicly complained that soldiers have been
threatening to harm them since June if there would be any casualties
during their operations. In both Samar and Leyte, the 8th ID troops often
kill, torture or arrest civilians on mere suspicion they support the NPA,
and whole communities are put under military control through the work of
so-called Reengineered Special Operations Teams (RSOT). "
"Meanwhile, some details of the 8th ID's Balikatan exercise with US Army
Special Forces show that up to a company of Filipino troops were trained
in psychological and unconventional warfare, especially in small-unit
operations, such as squad attack, ambush reaction and close-quarter
battle. The US Army Special Forces is known to have carried out
unconventional warfare or "dirty tactics" such as assassinations of
prominent "enemies", during the Vietnam War and in more recent armed
conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is entirely possible that Fr.
Lucero, who was reportedly ambushed by around 30 assailants in bonnets and
military uniform, may have been assassinated by the specially trained 8th
ID troops."
Manuel however said that the 8th ID will continue to be on the losing
course because it does not have the people's support and remains tied in
the main to conventional warfare. On the other hand the NPA is cherished
by the masses and furthermore superior in strategy and tactics by
practicing guerrilla warfare. "In any war it is the people who matter, and
right now the people are angry and long-suffering and want to be rid of
the corrupt, brutal and pro-imperialist Arroyo regime. By fighting to end
the hated regime, by punishing the regime's fascist troops who oppress the
people, the NPA is in solidarity with and winning the hearts and minds of
the people. Today the 8th ID may be terrorizing the people by horrifically
murdering defenseless civilians, but in reality the fascist troops are
bleeding on the battlefield. We in the NPA warn Gloria Arroyo and Gen.
Tabaquero that they are just getting the initial taste as the NPA's
strength grows in defeating Oplan Bantay Laya, and Arroyo and Tabaquero
may not be around much longer because of the people's struggle to end the
present regime. But ten years from now the NPA will still be fighting, and
we will have more guerrilla fronts and Red fighters and weapons. In the
future we will be crushing even bigger numbers of fascist troops and
dismantling the reactionary ruling system with the support of the people,
until the country will truly enjoy freedom, justice, democracy and
peace."#
Reference:
Roy Santos
NDF-EV Media Liaison Officer
Cellphone Number: +639108279214
E-mail: ndf_ev@yahoo. com |
