8ID condemns NPA violation of CARHRIHL in Samar

By DPAO, 8ID PA
June 16, 2015

CAMP LUKBAN, Catbalogan City – The Army’s 8th Infantry (Stormtroopers) Division joins the local government officials, the clergy, the civil society organizations and the peace advocates in strongly condemning the violation of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) committed by the New People’s Army (NPA) here on June 13, 2015 at 3:30 A.M. when members of the NPA indiscriminately harassed the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) at Barangay Lagundi, Catbalogan City, Samar.

The Lagundi Jail was destroyed by the NPA through the use of Improvised Explosive Device (IED) that destroyed the wall of the facility that prompted a firefight which caused the instantaneous death of inmate Roy Yangzon while inflicted injury to three BJMP personnel.

It can be recalled that the NPA also ambushed an unarmed troops on board a motorcycle who went on marketing their food supplies from Catbalogan City while on their way to San Jose de Buan last month. It also killed a two year-old baby Dishley Arandia thru strafing last April in Matuguinao, Samar that prompted the LGU and the family to condemn the barbaric act of the NPA and that justice should be served for the loss of innocent lives.

These activities are gross violation of CARHRIHL by the CPP-NPA which the communist group is a signatory while their leadership just tolerate such act.

CARHRIHL states that parties involved in the agreement should affirm and apply the principles of international humanitarian law in order to protect the civilian population and individual civilians, as well as persons deprived of their liberty for reasons related to the armed conflict and also guarantees the right against economic and food blockades and indiscriminate bombings, shelling, strafing, gunfire and the use of landmines.

Under the Principle of Distinction which is the basis of international humanitarian law which applies in all armed conflicts, the principle obliges “Parties to a conflict” (i.e. the warring parties, whether states or non-state armed groups) to target only military objectives and not the civilian population or individual civilians or civilian objectives. Failing to make this distinction in military operations represents an indiscriminate attack and is a war crime.

Meanwhile, it was gathered that said atrocity is a punitive action for a depleted support from the people of Samar Province who wants just and lasting peace thru a concerted efforts between the 8ID and other stakeholders from different sectors of the society wherein on June 12, 2015 the three islands municipality of Samar namely; Almagro, Sto Niño, Tagapul-an was declared “Insurgency-Free” municipalities thru the support of the Local Chief executives and the Provincial Government of Samar.

The CPP-NPA has been desperate in attempting to counter the government’s efforts in bringing peace and development to the people through continuous disregard of the law to boast their effort in reviving those areas where they lost support from the masses.

Major General Jet B. Velarmino, Commander 8ID stressed by calling the Samar people of peace to help in convincing those who are deceived by the CPP-NPA to follow the path of peace and condemn those who advocate violence and use arms against civilians.