The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) denied on Thursday, Jan. 5, the involvement of its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA), in the July 18, 2022 alleged armed encounter with the Philippine Army (PA) in Batangas where a nine-year-old girl died.
The denial was issued by CPP’s Chief Information Officer Marco Valbuena in a statement sent to journalists covering the Department of Justice (DOJ).
It was an apparent reaction to the announcement made by the Department of Justice (DOJ) that it will file murder and terrorism charges against six alleged NPA members for the encounter in Sitio Amatong, Barangay Ginhawa in Taysan, Batangas.
The full text of the statement:
“Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) denounces the Department of Justice (DOJ) for its blatant cover-up of the crime of the 59th IB in the killing of nine-year-old Kyllene Casao last July 18, 2022 in Batangas. Contrary to its name, the DOJ is committing a gross travesty of justice.
“Instead of filing charges against the officers and men involved in the indiscriminate firing which led to the death of Casao, the DOJ plans to file charges against six people who are being linked to the CPP and New People's Army (NPA).
“This clearly aims to exculpate the criminal fascist officers and men of the 59th IB by shifting the blame to the NPA despite the fact that no NPA unit was in the area during the commission of the despicable crime.
“Rushing home from gathering firewood and herding goats, Kyllene and her father, residents of Sitio Centro, Barangay Guinhawa, Taysan, Batangas, were indiscriminately fired at by a unit of the 59th IB positioned at the nearby elementary school.
“Kyllene was fatally hit and did not make it to the hospital. The soldiers were apparently trigger-happy following an armed encounter between the NPA and another unit of the 59th IB in Sitio Amatong in the same barangay, which is separated from Sitio Centro by high mountains.
“The 59th IB cannot hide the truth that it was their bullets that killed 9-year-old Kyllene. Their guilt is clearly reflected in their actions. They repeatedly threatened the Casao family and intimidated local residents to silence them.
“The village was placed under military control with soldiers using civilian structures as the basketball court, barangay hall and civilian homes for their operations. Human rights groups conducting humanitarian missions were repeatedly harrased and threatened by the 59th IB. They were intimidated up to Kyllene's burial on July 28, 2022.
“The residents of Sitio Centro are fully aware that the 59th IB, its acting Commanding Officer Lt. Col. Ernesto Teneza Jr, and the AFP Southern Luzon Command should be held liable for the killing of Kyllene. The 59th IB is notorious for countless other human rights violations in Batangas.
“This is not the first time that AFP officers are evading justice by covering-up their crimes, especially the killing of children, by conveniently shifting blame to the NPA. However, they can not hide the fact that their hands are dripping in blood.”
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Jan. 4, the DOJ said: “Respondents Isagani Isita a.k.a. Yano/Toyang/Sid/Ron/Sikad/Jamir/Arkin/Zhuge, Junalice Arante-Isita a.k.a Juna/Irene/Erin/Arya/Fabian, Mariano Bico a.ka. Nick/Jim/Adonis/Melay, Gilbert Orr a.k.a. Nash/Jade/Art, a.k.a. Joey/Elon/Edel/Analinda/Jorel/Jonas and a.k.a. Ching/Marcel/Allen/Jane/Daniel were indicted for Murder under Article 248 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended, and for violation of Section 4(a) and 4(d) of Republic Act No. 11479, otherwise known as the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.”
“After evaluation of the evidence, the Panel of Prosecutors found sufficient evidence to hold respondents for trial,” the DOJ said.
It said the encounter in Taysan “resulted to injuries to one of the soldiers and led to the death of a civilian, a nine-year old child.”
It said that the soldiers arrested the suspects and recovered from the site of the encounter various firearms, ammunition, explosives, and subversive materials.
“While it may appear that the murder victim was not the direct target of herein respondents and was just caught in the line of fire when the respondents fired upon the members of the Philippine Army, her death clearly was the result of the unlawful acts perpetrated by the respondents,” said the DOJ as it cited the resolution of the panel of prosecutors.
“Probable cause was likewise found for violation of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020,” it said.
It pointed out that the use of high-powered firearms “seriously endangered the lives of the members of the Philippine Army and consummated in injury and death” and “intended to cause a disproportionate amount of damage or harm of sufficient magnitude.”
“The acts of respondents were calculated to seriously undermine public safety and to create an atmosphere of fear,” it added.
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