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"AFP uses civilians as shields" — NPA

BAGUIO CITY (May 19) — “The 50th IB is twisting and reversing facts by blaming the New People’s Army (NPA) for acts that the military is guilty of — that of forcibly using civilians as shields and guides during military operations.”

This the Chadli Molintas Command (CMC)-NPA declared in an emailed statement on recent government press releases of the NPA having used children as human shields in an encounter in Brgy. Nagcullooban, Sinait, Ilocos Sur on April 5.

CMC Spokesperson Martin Montana said in the statement that it was the 50th IB under Lt. Col. Pascion who used three civilians as shields in a 30-minute gunfight. Prior to their withdrawal, the AFP illegally entered and searched civilian houses and stole P2,000. Documents of ownership of land and a carabao were also confiscated, according to Montana.

A week after the encounter, the local Philippine National Police (PNP) called four members of the Tumbaga family (Virgilio, Paulo, Corazon, and Lucita), and under duress and threat to their lives, forced them to sign an affidavit stating that the NPA used children as shields during the encounter, and that the NPA was forcibly collecting taxes from the people.

The CMC statement relayed that in Tapayen, Tineg, Abra, after military operations, troops of the 17th IB combined with the Re-engineered Special Operations Team (RSOT) of the 503rd Brigade conscripted civilians to serve as guides. They were forced to wear army uniforms while military troops wore plainclothes. They used teenagers as cargadors (haulers) to carry their supplies.

In Kalinga and in all other provinces of the country, military troops ride in passenger jeeps, putting civilian passengers in danger, as a matter of policy to avoid being ambushed by the NPA, instead of using their own military vehicles, the CMC claimed.

“The Chadli Molintas Command vehemently condemns the AFP’s use of civilians as shields and guides in military operations. The NPA as a matter of principle and practice, never uses civilians as shields. The NPA knows that doing otherwise would be detrimental to the interests of the revolutionary cause and the welfare of the people whom it serves wholeheartedly,” Montana said.

The CMC spokesperson relayed further that the NPA does not forcibly collect revolutionary taxes from the people, only voluntary donations and support from the organized and supportive masses.

“The Chadli Molintas Command also takes this opportunity to warn businessmen and enterpreneurs against certain elements posing as NPA who are extorting “revolutionary taxes” from them. The NPA only collects revolutionary taxes from big comprador capitalists and landlords, not from ordinary and middle businessmen”, Montana said.

A number of these extortion activities have proven to be masterminded by military officials, or criminal syndicates with AFP connections, he ended. # via NORDIS

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