“19 MURDER CASE FILED VS NPA IN SAMAR”

Camp Daza, Fatima, Hinabangan Samar – Families of murder victims in the towns of Jiabong, Motiong and Paranas all in Samar seek the assistance of the Commission on Human Rights – 8.

The victims’ families asked the help of the CHR to investigate the killing of their love ones by the elements of the New Peoples Army during a Forum held in Motiong, Samar last 11 September 2008.

These were the result after the conduct of massive information drives by joint elements of 34^th IB and 14^th IB assigned in the area that encouraged the people to file a case against the CPP/NPA/NDF.

The Peace and Development Forum, a joint effort by the LGU’s, LGAs, AFP and PNP in the towns of Jiabong, Paranas and Motiong was design to offer an avenue for the local leaders to know more of the different government programs that deals on how to improve them- socially and economically. The other objectives of such forum were to facilitate the filing of complaints of the poor victims of human rights violation committed by the NPA in these towns.

Col Francisco Lanuza, the 801^st Brigade Commander strongly condemns these NPA atrocities, and assured the people in his area of jurisdiction that justice will be serve and that the perpetrators will be punished according to law. “That is why I am calling everybody, both officials and ordinary citizens, let us join our hands, unite our efforts, synchronize our plans and altogether put an end to this insurgency that drained so much of our resources and claimed hundreds of innocent lives,” Lanuza said.

The murder cases were so alarming that that prompted the military to ask the cooperation and active participation of the LGUs, LGAs and the PNP. Reports that reached to the 801^st Headquarters of several residents in the interior barangays of Paranas are now seeking refuge in the town proper, afraid to return to their homes after a certain Noe Pagarao of Brgy Lawaan-1 was sentenced to death by QP and IGONG PLATON under the CFS1.

“Let us do our share, let us serve our people religiously, and let us deliver on what they need with what we have. We will not promise what we cannot provide, but focus and commitment spell a big difference for our people to our realized that we are also a-working-leaders. Lets we forget, that it is not only the mission and duty of the military to put an end to the insurgency, you, as community leaders, you have a great part to curb this menace, too. Pagkaurusa na kita para han kamurayawan ug kauswagan,” Lanuza concluded.

CAFGU KILLS 2 NPA REBELS, 8ID TROOPERS OVERRUN NPA CAMP

CAMP LUKBAN, Catbalogan City, Samar – Armed NPA rebels suffered 2 casualties when they tried to abduct CAFGU Nonito Cabarles Sr. at Brgy. Blanca Aurora, San Jorge, W. Samar.

The frustrated abduction took place at his residence in front of his terrified wife and children last August 28, 2008 at around 10:00 P.M. by more or less 30 NPA rebels. Although CAA Cabarles was already hogtied, he managed to get a grenade from his pant’s back pocket, pull out the safety pin and dropped the fragmentation grenade behind him. This clear manifestation of bravery and personal sacrifice resulted to the death of two NPA rebels, wounding five other rebels but unfortunately, he was himself wounded in the process. The death of the two CTs was confirmed when a shallow grave was unearthed by local officials and government authorities at Barangay Moboob, San Jorge, W. Samar last Sept. 6, 2008 at 12:00 noon through the information of the barangay residents.

As a result of this incident, elements of 20IB under Lieutenants Raul Delos Santos and Ariel Moralejo, immediately conducted pursuit operations and were able to track down the withdrawing rebels. On September 3 and 4, the operating troops encountered more or less 30 heavily armed NPA rebels at Barangay San Andres, Motiong, Western Samar which resulted to the recovery of one rifle grenade, 12 pcs. improvised anti-personnel mines, 30 meters detonating cord (Commercial), two blasting caps, five meters firing wire, one solar panel with 12 volts battery, one binocular, one heavy duty automatic voltage regulator (AVR), two ICOM handheld radios, medical paraphernalia and assorted medicines, five backpacks, a sack of subversive documents and personal belongings of the late Pfc Erwin G. Guito of 46IB. The troops successfully overrun the NPA camp without any casualty on the government side.

Commander, 8^th Infantry Division, Brigadier General Arthur I. Tabaquero had emphasized that the NPAs will be charged with frustrated murder, frustrated abduction, illegal use of anti-personnel mines and trespass to dwelling.

General Tabaquero had also lauded the bravery and heroism of CAFGU Cabarles and the 8ID troopers. He intends to give awards to deserving soldiers. For the heroism of CAA Cabarles Sr., he received the Wounded Personnel Medal on September 9, 2008. In addition, CAA Cabarles Sr. will be recommended as CAFGU of the year during the AFP Anniversary Celebration this coming December 2008. General Tabaquero also condemns in the strongest terms the NPA rebels’ continuous use of anti-personnel mines that endanger the lives of innocent civilians. This is a gross violation of the International Humanitarian Law and the Geneva Convention mandating that use of anti-personnel mines is unlawful.

Likewise, he assures all residents that 8ID is committed to undertake military actions to neutralize all armed NPA rebels in Region 8 while accepting with open arms those rebels who wish to lay down their arms to have a peaceful and productive life.

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