NPA faces raps for ‘terrorizing school kids, use of landmines’
Several residents of Barangay Igcabugao, 15 kilometers off the town proper of Igbaras, Iloilo, rapped the New People’s Army (NPA) for allegedly terrorizing school children and their use of landmines.
The complaints were filed before the office of Commission on Human Rights (CHR) – Western Visayas.
The incident stemmed from the most recent harassment of the NPA last March 10 wherein the rebels allegedly opened fire near the elementary school of Igcabugao.
After the encounter, two landmines were also discovered 300 meters from the school located in Sitio Bais.
The residents claimed that the NPA violated Protocol 2 of the Geneva Convention and the International Humanitarian Law on the use of illegal landmines, as well as the violation of the residents to go about their daily lives without fear or prejudice.
The group of complainants was led by Igcabugao Brgy. Capt. Bonifacio Endencio, who sought the assistance of the 82nd Infantry (Bantay-Laya) Battalion to help facilitate their complaint to the CHR.
In his affidavit, Endencio stated. “this [incident] caused the community great alarm and fear because there were students attending class when the NPA started firing at us. As a result, classes were suspended for three days while our soldiers cleared Sitio Bais where we believe that the NPA conducted their attack on our community.”
The village chief claimed that it was not only the children who were affected but all of the residents of the barangay because people were afraid to go to their farms or go about their ordinary lives.
“We heeded the warning of the military until we were assured that the area was clear. The discovery of the landmines left behind by the NPA near our school caused great alarm within our community because it posed danger not only to our beloved soldiers but also to us and our children.” Endencio added.
Seven members of the community coming from the different sitios of Igcabugao accompanied Endencio in filing the complaint.
It was gathered that each gave the CHR investigators their own accounts of the incidents of harassment brought upon them by the NPA that culminated in the latest most despicable act of laying landmines near their school last March 10.
Meanwhile, 82IB commander Lt. Col. George Joel Lalaquil said that the abandoned IEDs already laid down and were left behind also indicate the NPA’s desperation amidst the pressure of their leadership to elevate their tactical offensives to a higher level.
“They’re failure to execute their plan and the abandonment of their equipment is an indicator of their frustration and desperation. We congratulate our Army troopers for their professionalism by putting their own lives on the line just to ensure the safety of the Igcabugaonons,” he added.
Further, “it is the same old story. Dwindling support, weak leadership, and hunger has caused the NPA to lose sight of what they are fighting for. By attacking innocent civilians they reveal their true nature as anti-people. By attacking our soldiers doing community work they in turn show that they are anti-development as well. We commend the actions of this brave village chief [Endencio] and we hope that more communities like Igcabugao will take a definitive stand against the NPA.” says 1Lt. Mark Andrew Posadas, spokesman of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division based in Panay.
Meanwhile, 3ID commander Major General Vicente Porto accused the NPA’s Southern Front in Panay Island for hopelessly clinging to Igbaras.
“But the residents themselves are the ones saying that they are unwelcome. The NPA’s recent actions in Western Visayas betray their desperation and incapability to conduct decisive operations against our soldiers. The 3ID will continue to stay vigilant to prevent these terrorists from further disrupting our peaceful way of life,” Porto vowed.
