CHR condemns NPA's attack vs. civilians in Negros Oriental
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has condemned the killing of four civilians reportedly perpetrated by the New People's Army (NPA) last May 14 in Sitio Agit, Barangay Trinidad, Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental.
The victims were identified as Ronelo Quirante, 56; Roger Fat, 46; and Rodrigo Lubay, 46, and his wife Sherryl, 44.
Col. Inocencio Pasaporte, commander of 303rd Infantry Brigade, said the victims were shot dead in front of their families because they were suspected as informants in the March 23 clash that claimed the lives of 10 NPA rebels.
"Mariing kinu-kundena ng CHR ang anumang uri ng karahasan, kabilang ang armadong pakikibaka, lalo na kung mga inosenteng sibilyan ang nadadamay. Importanteng tandaan na maging ang mga sibilyan ay may obligasyon na respetuhin ang karapatang pantao ng iba, (CHR strongly condemns any form of violence, including armed struggle, especially if innocent civilians are involved. It is important to remember that even civilians have an obligation to respect the human rights of others)," the CHR said in a statement.
"Inaasahan rin ng CHR na mapapanagot ang may mga sala nang naayon sa batas at tungo sa pagbibigay ng hustisya sa mga naging biktima, (The CHR also expects the perpetrators to be held accountable in accordance with the law and towards providing justice to the victims)," it added.
The CHR has repeatedly spoken out against attacks perpetrated by the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)-NPA especially in the midst of a health crisis.
When the NPA reportedly carried out attacks against soldiers and civilians last Oct. 2020, Spokesperson and lawyer Jacqueline Ann de Guia said in a statement that "no ideology can justify these senseless violations on the right to life."
The most recent statement was against the ambush by the CPP-NPA against the soldiers of the 15th Infantry Battalion in Barangay Yaoyao in Cauayan, Negros Occidental last April 3. Two intelligence operatives, who were conducting a Community Support Program in the barangay, were killed because of the shooting incident.