Army brushes aside NPA’s justification for atrocities
The Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division has brushed aside the claim of Concha Araneta, spokesperson of the National Democratic Front- Panay Island, that the recent atrocities committed by News People’s Army “are merely responses to the military’s continued violation of the people’s rights and defense of the revolutionary government’s territory.”
First Lt. Mark Andrew Posadas, 3rd ID spokesman, said CPP-NPA-NDF is attempting to win public sympathy for their cause by personally attacking the messenger and not the message in their statement.
In a statement, Araneta presented their position justifying their most recent attacks and defending their actions pursuant to their desire for the resumption of peace talks with the national government.
“It is our opinion in the 3rd ID that this most recent statement by the NDF-Panay was meant not only to re-assure their dwindling ranks but is also an attempt to destroy my credibility,” Posadas said.
According to the 3rd ID, in recent weeks alone, the CPP-NPA have resorted to harming and murdering innocent civilians. Three civilians in Escalante City, Negros Occidental were murdered by the Jean Pelle Command of the NPA, aside from the successive attacks in southern Iloilo where a civilian woman from Igbaras was injured after the NPA fired at their house.
“It is the NPA that continues to violate people’s rights especially in the hinterlands. The CPP-NPA-NDF are deluding themselves into thinking that they are still welcome in these communities. What have they given back to the people except fear and terror?” Posadas said.
He added that CPP-NPA is devoid of sincerity in its alleged desire for peace because they still continue their campaign of terrorism not only in the countryside but also in the urban areas.
Posadas said the CPP-NPA-NDF in Panay is in near collapse and as a matter of survival and to reassure their diminishing ranks they would want to continue to project an image of strength.
