In accordance with the verdict of the people’s court, New People’s Army (NPA)-Northern Negros (Roselyn Jean Pelle Command) carried out the death sentence against two criminal and anti-social elements in Calatrava, Negros Occidental in recent weeks. The unit said carrying out their sentence demonstrates its sincerity in defending the welfare and interests of the Negrosanons.

The relevant revolutionary committees in the barangay, the Party branch or the NPA unit assigned to the area where the accused committed the crimes carried out thorough and careful investigation before implementing the sentences.

The people’s court was then convened and the necessary revolutionary judicial processes were implemented. These included filing charges against the accused and giving them the opportunity to explain and defend themselves and to appeal.

The first sentence carried out by NPA-Northern Negros was the imposition of the death penalty on May 5 on Jemar Mahusay, 53, of Sitio Agbalatuan, Barangay Dolis. The revolutionary court convicted him for: (1) killing his sibling; (2) stealing from residents; (3) threatening to kill his mother; and (4) harassing women in the locality.

The next punishment took place on May 13 in Barangay Minautok against Gerry Baitan, 53, on the charge of raping his 18-year-old child with a disability (PWD). Baitan served as an asset of the 79th IB stationed in Calatrava. He accused civilians of being people’s army members so he could meet the “quota” imposed by the military. He also acted as a guide combat operations.

“These punitive actions show that the NPA will persist by virute of the support of the broad masses who are oppressed and exploited by the ruling class,” NPA-Northern Negros spokesperson Cecil Estrella said. She added that these actions continue the work and aims left by the martyrs and heroes of the Toboso massacre.

“The Red fighters of the Roselyn Jean Pelle Command and the entire Northern Negros revolutionary force mourn, but they continued launching tactical offensives to deliver justice to the victims of these anti-social elements and against the fascist state itself,” Estrella said.

She said these are also a slap in the face to the 79th IB, the police, and the National Task Force–Elcac, who like a broken record, boast that the NPA unit in Northern Negros has been “disbanded.” “So long as injustice, poverty and hunger exist, more and more will arm themselves and join the NPA to achieve a society that is free, without oppression and exploitation,” he said.