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 Communist Local Armed Conflict (NTF ELCAC) on Sunday said left-leaning human rights group Karapatan and its allies are too selective and biased in extending help to people needing their assistance.
Major General Antonio Parlade, Jr., who is also Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Deputy Chief-of-Staff for Civil-Military Operations, said Karapatan is trying very hard to recover the cadaver of alleged leader of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) and two other communist fighters who died in a recent encounter with government forces in Oriental Mindoro.
"Another proof that Karapatan is very selective in their advocacy as human rights defenders. They have been trying to recover the cadaver of the NPA leader of Sub-Regional Military Area 4 based in Palawan and two other Red fighters, who perished in an encounter with 203rd (Infantry) Brigade troops in Mansalay, Mindoro last June 13," he added.
These communist cadres were reportedly killed while conducting training and recruitment activities in Sitio Mawan, Panaytayan, Mansalay.
Parlade also slammed Karapatan and its allies for having the temerity to deny that they are front organizations of the CPP-NPA but have the gall to file writs of amparo and habeas data against ranking government officials and security officials, including President Rodrigo R. Duterte, for allegedly spearheading the red-tagging and harassment operations against them.
"They claim to be human rights defenders but they are silent of the dastardly beheading of former NPA turned CAFGU (Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit) member Ryard Badiang, whom they kidnapped, together with six civilian Manobos, in Lanuza town on May 30. He was beheaded later and his decapitated body was recovered in Maitum, Tandag City, Surigao Del Sur on June 14. What kind of group continue to support these NPA savages?," Parlade added.
Despite not carrying firearms, he said Karapatan has been clearly committing crimes including misrepresentation, if only to circumvent policies, procedures, and the law to achieve their objective of assisting the CPP-NPA, which is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.
"For so long they have been deceiving us with their duplicitous but criminal acts. It’s about time we file criminal charges against this group for obstructing justice. In the past, these paralegal group of the CPP has managed to (spirit) away minor NPAs captured in encounters, recover pieces of evidence like phones and laptops that would incriminate the CPP, after successful raids, arrests, and encounters. This has to stop. We cannot allow them to continue with this travesty of our laws," he added.
No harassment
Army’s 203 Infantry Brigade commander, Brig. Gen. Marceliano Teofilo, earlier denied allegations made by Karapatan Southern Tagalog that the police and military units harassed their paralegal team deployed in Mansalay, Oriental Mindoro.
The Karapatan team, Teofilo said, was monitoring alleged military harassments against Mangyan tribes and recover the remains of the three fallen rebels in the June 13 encounter.
He aid there is no harassment committed against Karapatan ST's paralegal team.
“All we ask is that legal procedures will be observed such as making sure that the remains will be claimed by their relatives. The statement of Karapatan puts malice on the efforts of the PNP (Philippine National Police) and the Army who has been the partners of the LGU in protecting our fellow Mindoreños from CPP-NPA atrocities. Surprisingly, they are so quick to cry out harassment from the government forces yet no condemnation of any of the terroristic actions of the CPP-NPA in Mindoro,” he added.
Karapatan members went to Mansalay days after the June 13 operations that also led to the recovery of five high-powered firearms, two improvised explosive device, live ammunition, and other subversive materials.
Instead of accusing government forces of harassment, Teofilo urged Karapatan and the National Union of People's Lawyers to instead condemn the NPA and its allies for killing Jose Barrera, of San Jose town, Occidental Mindoro; Kennedy Dam-in Aquino, of Rizal, Occidental Mindoro; and Jun-Jun Ysog Panaytayan, of Mansalay, Oriental Mindoro.
"Help their families to achieve justice and show to the people of Mindoro that Karapatan and their allies are for peace and protection of the real victims of CPP-NPA atrocities," military official added. (PNA)
