NorMin peace body condemns NPA for attacks on civilians

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- The Regional Peace and Order Council in Northern Mindanao (RPOC-10) has condemned the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing--New People’s Army (NPA) for their attacks on farms and the destruction of civilian properties.

RPOC-10, headed by Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno, unanimously approved the resolution of condemnation during its full council meeting on April 15 here.

The resolution called on the communist rebel leadership "to direct its armed wing the NPA to stop attacking civilians and to cease from destroying civilian properties".

The peace body noted that from January to March, the NPA claimed responsibility for staging "military offensive" on civilian farms in Bukidnon province, which the council condemned as "acts of terrorism disrespectful and violative of the International Humanitarian Law (IHL)".

The resolution enumerated the various atrocities committed by the rebels this year, beginning with the raid on a banana plantation of Dole Philippines located in Valencia City, Bukidnon, on January 25.

During that attack, the group torched an agricultural boom truck and cut approximately 8,000 banana trees.

"A certain Malem Mabini and Dereka Magtanggol, who introduced themselves over radio interviews as spokespersons of the CPP-NPA's North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC), claimed responsibility for the attack," RPOC-10 said.

RPOC-10 said a similar attack on a civilian compound was repeated on March 15 in Don Carlos, Bukidnon, when another armed band of NPA combatants swooped down on the plantation of Davao Agricultural Ventures Corporation (DAVCO).

"The NPAs forced a civilian caretaker to the ground, his face made to kiss the ground, as the terrorists started pouring petrol on farm equipment. Totally destroyed were a harvesting machine and two backhoes. One of the backhoes is owned by a farmers' cooperative Nagkahiusang Mag-uuma Agrarian Reform Cooperative (NAMARCO)," the peace council said.

"Again, NPA spokespersons claimed responsibility for the attack. Namarco farmers are demanding indemnification from the CPP-NPA for destroying their means of livelihood," it added.

Following the atrocities, the Army's 403rd Brigade has sought for an independent investigation from the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).

CHR-Region 10, which conducted the investigation, has yet to release its findings.

PROC-10 described the CPP-NPA's attack on civilian targets as "appalling acts" and "blatant disrespect of the International Humanitarian Law (IHL), which stipulates that civilian populated areas and civilians shall be distinguished from combatants and together with their property, shall not be the object of the attack."

Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Antonio Ledesma, a member of the RPOC representing the civilian sector, expressed full support on the resolution condemning the CPP-NPA atrocities, even as he called on the rebels to spare and protect civilians.

Maj. Gen. Franco Nemesio Gacal, the Army's 4th Infantry Division commander, called on the CPP-NPA to heed the RPOC-10 resolution.

"The NPA should listen to the people's call for them to stop attacking civilians and to stop destroying civilian properties," Gacal said.

"The CPP and the NDF (National Democratic Front), which represented the NPA in an agreement with the government to respect IHL, must prove its leadership over the NPA. The NPA's recent attacks on civilians and civilian properties is a clear manifestation that the CPP-NDF failed to control, discipline, and sanction the NPA," the military official added.

The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines. (PNA)