AFP files murder raps vs top communist leaders over death of 2 CAFGUs
Major Vener Morga, commanding officer of the
301st Brigade, and Captain Lowen Gil Marquez,
commanding officer of the 3rd Civil Relations
Group of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)
answering questions from the media.
Charges were filed anew yesterday at the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) here naming supposed top officials of the local Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) as respondents.
Standing as complainant is Captain Lowen Gil Marquez, commanding officer of the 3rd Civil Relations Group of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). Marquez was accompanied by Army Major Vener Morga, commanding officer of the 301st Brigade in filing the complaint.
The duo met with members of the local press prior to the case filing and explained that the charges as lodged comes at a time the CPP hierarchy marks its "anniversary of atrocities."
Tomorrow is the founding anniversary of the CPP's armed wing, the New People's Army (NPA).
Complaints against supposed violations on the Human Security Act and murder charges were filed following the deaths of Edwin Castor and Waren Ballen in the Province of Capiz. The two were believed to have been executed by the CPP-NPA in the area for serving as agents of the government.
Castor's tortured body was found floating in the Panay River last December 2007 while Ballen was executed in Barangay Putian, Cuartero, Capiz.
"The cold-blooded murders and forced disappearances are continuing violations of the Human Security Act committed by the terrorists CPP/NPA which is also clearly crimes against humanity," Captain Marquez said.
And the CHR as venue of the said complaints, Captain Marquez added, is necessary if only to "protect the masses from the venomous fangs of the terrorists…."
"The AFP will always be on guard and continue to protect the Filipino masses and defend the Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines. The AFP is there to create and maintain an environment of peace which is conducive to progress and development," he ended.
Meantime, AFP offensive continue against remaining NPA communist terrorists estimated to be over 200 in Panay Island.
Major Morga said recruitment continues through propaganda in hinterland barangays.
"Enough of those harassments, enough of those atrocities," he said while stressing that the battle continues.