Correspondence reports:
Use of civilians as human shields denounced

Basahin ang artikulong ito sa Pilipino

The New People's Army Efren Martires Command in Eastern Visayas denounced the Philippine National Police's (PNP) use of civilians as shields in an encounter that occurred on March 26 in Barangay Lake Danao, Ormoc City, Leyte.

In a statement issued April 1, Jose Sumoroy, the command's spokesperson, denounced the PNP for purposely letting three employees of the Philippine National Oil Corp. (PNOC) join their convoy even though they knew they would encounter the NPA.

The PNP and the reactionary military are aware that the NPA does not embroil civilians in its conduct of armed struggle. The NPA strictly complies with international humanitarian law and international war conventions aside from its own policies and those of the Party and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines against inflicting harm on civilians.

The policemen hoped that if they were accompanied by three civilians, the NPA would hesitate to ambush their troops.

The Red fighters of the Mount Amandewin Command were not aware that there were civilians in the convoy sent by the PNP to the PNOC. Because of this, Aldrine Alcober, Jerry Flores and Jaime Celeste, all employees of the PNOC, were caught in the crossfire and killed. The Efren Martires Command expressed its profound sadness at the PNP's reckless endangerment of these civilians. It also extended its sincere condolences and its readiness to help the bereaved families.

The command also called on the AFP and the PNP to respect the rights of innocent civilians and to abide by the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL). It assailed the military and police for forcibly using civilians as guides in operations or ordering them to position themselves at the forefront of their troops. This is aside from bombing communities and perpetrating extrajudicial killings, abductions, torture and other violations of human rights and international humanitarian law.

07 April 2004
English Edition

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