Military: Victims of NPA’s killings triple in one year
Victims of atrocities committed by the New People’s Army in Western Visayas have tripled from 2009 to 2010, according to the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division.
Since 2002, records show that there have been 92 victims of NPA’s summary execution in Western Visayas.
Last year, the Army has recorded nine deaths perpetrated by the communist rebels, and this year, military records show 22 victims of NPA’s extra-juridical killings within the 3rd ID’s area of operations.
Of the number, 21 cases happened Negros.
“So, basically, it tripled from that of last year. Also, 95 percent of all incidents happening within the island since the beginning of 2010 happened in Negros,” said 1st Lt. Mark Andrew Posadas, 3rd ID spokesman.
However, not all of these cases were filed with before the Commission on Human Rights or the courts.
From January to November 2010, CHR 6 records show a total of only seven docketed cases filed against the CPP-NPA with the most number of cases filed in Negros Occidental.
“This is attributed to the fact that the families of the victims are terrified to file these cases against the NPA for fear of further repercussions and harassment from the lawless group,” Posadas said.
He said statistics would show “how successful the NPA are at terrorizing innocent civilians.”
“The killing of one silences the many,” said Lt. Col. Ramil Bitong of the 11th Infantry Battalion based in central Negros.
“This has been their most desperate strategy in central Negros to counter the success of our civil-military operations. They want to project that they are still a potent threat and are now attacking non-combatants,” he added.*JPR
