NPAs violate human
rights anew
By
DPAO, 8ID PA
April 4, 2014
CAMP LUKBAN, Catbalogan
City, Samar – New People’s Army violated human rights anew when it
abducted and killed a former New People’s Army at Brgy. Magdawat
Pinabacdao, Samar on March 9, 2014.
Based on the report from Lt
Col William P. Peñafiel Jr., the Commanding officer of the 52nd
Infantry (CAFGU) Battalion based at Brgy. Caticugan, Sta Rita, Samar,
Allan Rafales, called aka “Benny” a former rebel was forcibly taken by
NPA insurgents around 9 a.m. on March 9, 2014. It was reported that
aka “Benny” was participating in a Pintakasi or cockfighting event at
Brgy. Magdawat when he was kidnapped. His lifeless body was found
around 5p.m. of the same day.
Aka “Benny” surrendered to
the 52nd Infantry (CAFGU) Battalion on January 6, 2012, as he wanted
to start a new life with his family. After receiving his benefits from
the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Peace Process of OPAPP,
he was released from the custody of 52IB and went home to Sitio
Canlobo, Pinabacdao, Samar purposely to cultivate a small lot as
augmentation to support his family, until that fateful day when he was
killed by the rebels.
When members of his family
were reached out, they confirmed that their father was forcibly taken
and killed by the rebels, but they were not around when the crime
happened. It was only relayed to them by their relatives. They added
that, their father was vent on starting a new life, but it was cut
short by the rebels when they killed him.
The case of aka “Benny” is
just one of the crimes against humanity that the NPA rebels have been
doing for the past 45 years. They are saying that they are the
defenders and protectors of the rights of the poor yet they are doing
otherwise. How many more aka “Benny” will the rebels kill? How many
more children will be orphaned because the NPAs do not want their
fathers to lead a normal and peaceful life for their families?
Maj Gen Jet B. Velarmino AFP,
the Commander of the 8th Infantry Division said: “For almost 45 years,
many Filipinos have been victims of NPA operations. We enjoin everyone
to condemn in strongest terms the violence and killings the rebels are
perpetrating.
“The use of armed struggle
to attain political ends is not acceptable to the Filipino people and
has no place in a civilized and democratic society. It is a thing of
the past as it will only bring misery and poverty among our people.
Let us then give peace a chance and not resort to violence to attain
political ends as the NPA is advocating,” he added.