The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) condemns in the strongest possible terms the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), particularly the 5th Infantry Division and the cold-blooded fascist killers of the 502nd Brigade, for war crimes in the killing of three hors de combat Red fighters of the New People’s Army.

The Party condemns the AFP for the extrajudicial killing of Ariel Arbitrario (Ka Karl), Danielle Marie Pelagio (Ka Seed) and Erin Sagsagat (Ka Jorly) last September 11 in Barangay Baliuag, Peñabalanca town, Cagayan province.

Based on field reports, the three were part of a team of six Red fighters who were tasked to conduct consultations and meetings with the local peasant masses. They set up a bivouac outside the community. The claims of the AFP that they encountered a 17- or 20-man team of the NPA are false. In fact, the AFP carried out a planned attack at the break of dawn. The NPA team was quickly overpowered.

Arbitrario, who hails from Davao region, served as a peace consultant of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) during peace negotiations in 2016-2017. He held a document of information under the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG).

In their statements, the AFP claims Arbitrario’s remains were found only two days after the encounter. We have reason to believe that he was, in fact, already under military custody and held for at least one day, during which he was subjected to severe torture before being summarily executed. Despite acknowledging Arbitrario’s killing, the AFP has yet to release his remains.

The Party and the entire revolutionary movement extends its most profound sympathies to the families of Ka Karl, Ka Seed and Ka Jorly. We join you in mourning their deaths which weigh heavily on our hearts and the hearts of the broad peasant masses and minority Agta people of Cagayan Valley whom they loved dearly and served with all their lives.

The Party honors Ka Karl, Ka Seed and Ka Jorly as heroes of the Filipino people. The memories of their deeds for the people and the revolution will live forever.

At the same time, we raise our voices to express our strongest outrage and to demand justice for Ka Karl, Ka Seed and Ka Jorly. We urge the families, human rights organizations and peace advocates to help in seeking justice for their deaths. We urge them to conduct an investigation into the September 11 armed incident. They can seek a post-mortem autopsy of the remains to seek details of their deaths.