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| 50th IB Commits Barbaric Acts Against NPA Red Fighter
May 13, 2008
The Agustin Begnalen Command (NPA-Abra) and the people of Tubo, Abra vehemently condemn the gross violations of the 50th IB of the provisions and articles of war specified under Protocol 1 of the Geneva Convention and reaffirmed under the Comprehensive Agreement on the Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law signed by the National Democrtic Front and the Philippine government. Specifically, we condemn the C Coy headed by 1Lt John Pedrigosa and 2Lt Abdul Rashid Avila for beheading and desecrating the remains of Sammy Rey "Ka Cholo" Cayago, a red fighter slain in an encounter with the said troops last March 24 in a forested area of Barangay Tubtuba, Tubo.
After almost a whole month of searching, Ka Cholo's decomposing body was retrieved by the NPA last April 21, while the 50th IB and 52nd Recon Coy were still on combat operation in the Ampis area or triboundaries of Abra, Mountain Province and Ilocos Sur. One hand and one foot were missing. His head was separated from his body. The back portion of his skull was shattered to pieces. Ka Cholo's remains were placed in a makeshift coffin and buried until it was exhumed last May 2 and turned over to his grieving and outraged family.
Earlier, soldiers of the C Coy bragged to the people of Pananuman and Tubtuba how they riddled Ka Cholo's body with more than 50 bullets. They proudly boasted that 2Lt Avila hacked off Ka Cholo's head with a bolo and how another soldier smashed the head with a rock, shattering the back portion of his skull.
These flagrantly inhuman acts can only be committed by madmen. The 50th IB is notorious for being bloodthirsty terrorists. The savagery they have done to Ka Cholo are an addition to their already long list of heinous crimes committed against the revolutionary movement and the people.
For the recent war crimes they have committed, the Agustin Begnalen Command ang Ka Cholo's family will file a formal case against the 50th IB and 503rd Infantry Brigade through the Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC). Furthermore, the ABC vows that the 50th IB will pay dearly for the injustice they have done to Ka Cholo.
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