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Denounce Reds over brutal slay of CAFGU member, Karapatan told

By Priam Nepomuceno

June 2, 2019, 11:06 pm

<p>Major General Antonio Parlade, Jr., AFP Deputy Chief of Staff for Civil Military Operations</p>

Major General Antonio Parlade, Jr., AFP Deputy Chief of Staff for Civil Military Operations

MANILA – A ranking official of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF ELCAC) on Sunday blasted human rights group Karapatan for its silence about the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA)'s brutal murder of a member of Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU) who was just helping in the "Brigada Eskwela" program in a remote barangay in La Paz, Agusan del Sur on May 30.

"So, again where are you Kamatayan (Makabayan) bloc? Where is Cristina Palabay of Karapatan? Where are those who didn't want red-tagged? Where are those who complain that they are being harassed by the government?" said Major General Antonio Parlade, Jr., who is also Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Deputy Chief-of-Staff for civil-military operations.

Parlade was referring to the murder of  Felipe Amado, 42, Manobo resident of Barangay Lydia, who was repeatedly shot and stabbed dead by five NPA members while the victim was off from work.

Perpetrators broke Amado’s neck and skinned his left arm before they fled towards Comota–Lydia barangay road.

At the time of his death, Amado was helping in the yearly "Brigada Eskwela" activities of the Lydia Elementary School.

"Here is another brutal killing by the NPAs and we are not hearing from you. It’s your chance to prove you have nothing to do with this organization who has been killing defenseless people. Indeed, what color do you want to be tagged now?" Parlade said.

Karapatan and two other militant groups earlier filed writs of amparo and habeas data before the Supreme Court, accusing the government and military of red-tagging, harassment, and other charges in connection with their alleged human right work.

Parlade also urged Karapatan to denounce the CPP-NPA and its allies for repeated atrocities they have committed against innocent indigenous peoples, and farmers in the countryside.

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

"A good number of people just rejected you last elections. It’s time to convince them you have been unfairly linked to the communist terrorists. You cannot be quiet forever without saying something about this brutality of your CPP cohorts," he added.

Parlade also warned Karapatan and other leftist organizations to come clean and convince the public that they do not have a hand in the violent and illegal acts being perpetrated by communist rebels.

"You only have another three years until next election and if you cannot turn the tide to your favor, your Makabayan bloc will face extinction. NUPL (National Union of Peoples' Lawyers), Karapatan, RMP (Rural Missionaries of the Philippines), Gabriela, Ibon Foundation, and the rest of the Makabayan bloc, please we urge you. Condemn this terrorist killing now and be the champions of the oppressed as you claim. The people are waiting. Your European and foreign funders you have duped are watching," he added.

Parlade earlier said the severe defeat suffered by Makabayan bloc party-list groups in the May 13 elections polls is a wake-up call as people no longer believe in their advocacies.

"The result of the recent elections has shown that the people are finally awake," he added. (PNA)

 

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