PRESS RELEASE
Information Bureau
Communist Party of the Philippines

CPP condemns spate of human rights abuses in Camarines Sur
March 15, 2004

The Communist Party of the Philippines today strongly condemned the spate of human rights abuses being commited by the government soldiers in the province of Camarines Sur in the Bicol region.

Gregorio "Ka Roger" Rosal, CPP spokesperson, said that "the Philippine Army's so-called pursuit operations against the NPA are in fact reprisal operations being directed against civilians for the NPA's recent successful tactical offensive and capture of government soldiers in the area."

According to Rosal, soldiers belonging to the Philippine Army's 42nd and 31st Infantry Battalions and 9th Scout Ranger Company have been committing gross violations of human rights in the towns of Tinambac, Goa and Lagonoy since March 2, a day after NPA guerrillas ambushed Army soldiers and captured two prisoners of war (POWs) in Barangay Bataan, Tinambac.

Rosal disclosed that based on detailed reports from the area, six persons have been abducted by the military. They are Jaime Rodriguez of Barangay Bataan, Tinambac and Emilio de los Santos, Sonny de los Santos, Ariel Candelaria and Berning Abellana and Bayan Muna coordinator Isiderio de los Santos of Barangay Del Carmen, Lagonoy.

Rosal said that Isiderio de los Santos is still missing. The five others have been surfaced but are still being detained illegally at the 42nd IB's headquarters in Barangay Mabalodbalod, Goa.

Isiderio's wife Rosa reported that officials at the battalion headquarters were demanding two pigs as a condition for the surfacing of her husband, according to Rosal.

Rosal denounced the soldiers' sexual molestation of Mary Jane Abellana, 14, of Del Carmen, Lagonoy on March 3. On the same day, said Rosal, army troopers stole and feasted on three turkeys owned by Del Carmen Barangay Councilor Rodolfo Caganda.

Rosal also said that government soldiers mauled several civilians, including Samuel Magracia of Barangay Mabini, Goa and Anakpawis coordinator Gilbert Quilingan of Barangay Antipolo, Tinambac as well as several others in Barangay Lamon, Goa and Barangay Pinamihagan, Lagonoy.

Rosal said that such fascist abuses by the military only serve to heighten the people's ire at the government. He ascertained that the NPA will punish the perpetrators of these abuses.

Meanwhile, Rosal reiterated the CPP-NPA's demand for the AFP to cease its military operations in Camarines Sur and surrounding areas to pave the way for negotiations for the safe and orderly release of two POWs, Lt. Ronaldo Fedelino and Pfc Ronel Leme�o, captured by the NPA after its March 1 ambush in the area.

The NPA has referred to the NDF peace panel for negotiations with the government with regard the orderly release of the POWs.###

Reference:
Anne Buenaventura
Media Officer
Cellphone Number: +63910-240-3553



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