Abra group seeks justice for Philippine Army’s war crimes
2 MIN READ
By KIMBERLIE NGABIT-QUITASOL
www.nordis.net
BANGUED, Abra — Kakailian Salakniban Tay Amin a Nagtaudan (Kastan), the local chapter of the Cordillera People’s Alliance in Abra, continues to demand for justice for the victims of the war crimes of Philippine Army troopers in Lacub, Abra as they urged the Philippine government (GRP) and National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) to address the roots of the armed conflict in the peace talks.
In a statement circulated to the media, Kastan said the Lacub people are witnesses to the raging civil war in the countryside and recognize that “many chose to bear arms because the political system needs to be changed radically”.
“We welcome the resumption of the peace negotiations between the National Democratic Front of the Philippines and the government of the Philippines. We are hoping that the negotiations will be fruitful and will benefit the Filipino people,” the statement read.
It can be recalled that seven New People’s Army members and two civilians were killed in a massive military operation conducted by the 41st IB of the Philippine Army in the first week of September 2014.
Noel Viste, a local of Lacub was among those who went to retrieve the body of their villagemate who was among the NPA revolutionaries killed. He was killed after he was forcibly taken and used as shield by the operating state soldiers.
Engineer Fidela Salvador, a development worker who was monitoring some non-government organization projects in the area was abducted, tortured and murdered by operating troops. The 41st IB later claimed that she was a guerrilla fighter.
The NPA rebels killed during the said military operations were Arnold “Ka Mando” Jaramillo, Recca Noelle “Ka Tet Monte”, Robert “Ka Sona” Beyao, Brandon “Ka Sly” Magranga, Ricardo “Ka Tubong” Reyes, Pedring “Ka Jess” Bangao and Robert “Ka Limbo” Perez.
The remains of the NPA rebels and civilians bore signs of torture and were mutilated. Autopsy reports of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) indicated that the NPA rebels and civilians were tortured and summarily executed.
“We recognize their desire to free the people from the social illnesses that we continue to suffer up to this day. They may have chosen different ways, but they were all looking at one goal: to uplift the lives of the people,” the statement further read. # nordis.net
