8ID: ‘NDF is not sincere for peace talk’

By CMO Battalion, 8ID PA
December 15, 2010

CAMP LUKBAN, Catbalogan, Samar  –  The recent pronouncement of the National Democratic Front’s (NDF) demand for peace talk is a mere ploy to advance their offensives against the government.

With the newest atrocity perpetrated by the terrorist New People’s Army (NPA) in Eastern Visayas, it shows that CPP-NPA-NDF upsurges their expert uses of lies and propaganda to steal glory against the people and the state.

In Leyte province, troops of the Army’s 19th Infantry Battalion on board two (2) vehicles on their way to their camp to adhere to the suspension of military operations (SOMO) were fired upon by the undetermined number of communist terrorist somewhere in Brgy Candigahob, Carigara town, around 9 p.m. last night.  Fortunately, no one was reported hurt in the incident.

In Northern Samar, around 3 p.m. yesterday in the boundary of Brgys Sta. Fe and Perez all of Las Navas town, undetermined number of rebels waylaid the withdrawing troops who are supposed to “back to barracks” to observe the government’s declaration of SOMO for the Yuletide seasons and to give-way the desire of the NDF for peace-talk.

The rebels used destructive improvised mines to assure of the fatality of the troops. Two (2) soldiers were reported wounded and ten (10) others were killed.  One innocent minor Joven Cabe was also reported murdered who was just swimming in the river banks.

The 8th Infantry Division’s leadership was dismayed with how the rebels take advantage with the command’s abidance of the peace mechanisms being orchestrated in the higher level.  It only shows their true intention why peace talk is once again brought out of the picture.

Major General Mario Chan, 8ID’s chief condemns in the strongest possible terms the insincerity of the CPP-NPA-NDF in their demand to engage in peace talk.  He also condemns the persistent violation of the terrorist NPA on human rights and international humanitarian law.

“Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) which is both signed by the NDF and our government is totally abused and disrespected.  Serious violation of our people’s rights is deemed condemnable in the strongest possible terms,” declares Major General Chan.

It can also be recalled just recently in Las Navas, a pumped boat load of troops with civilians who will attend the Brgy Peace and Order Council (BPOC) of Poponton was mercilessly attacked by these terrorists that resulted to the killing of two (2) civilians including one minor Edwin Gudcad and wounding two (2) others.  These were already condemned by the people both locally and internationally.

“I keep on challenging the different human rights advocates who keep on roaring over the violation of people’s rights to condemn this upsurge of human rights violation. Now that they are vulgarly exposed their true colors, my question remain still.  Why don’t you bark once more and condemn these brutal godless monsters that mercilessly attacked the defenseless people?  Prove now that you are really for the human rights of the people, and not for the rights of these terrorists,” says General Chan.

Major General Chan also said that the Army units in the area will remain committed in their mandate to continuously uphold the Constitutional thrusts despite insincerity of the other party. The 8ID thru their field units is now conducting constant coordination with the PNP to run after the perpetrators and let them face the charges bounded by the law.

“This incident would not make our desire to stop insurgency in the province for the benefit of our people, instead we will continue to pursue these terrorists until finally put an end on their violence,” Chan adds.