Bayan dares 10th ID to surface 3 abducted NPA combatants

PRESS RELEASE

February 6, 2009

Davao City – In a picket rally today at Camp Panacan, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) dared the leadership of 10^th Infantry Division under the command of Major General Jogy Leo Fojas to surface 3 NPA combatants who by statements of their families and other witnesses were abducted last January 26 of this year.

Bayan also noted the writ of amparo which the families of Ruel Cabales, Catherine Guinoo Cacdac, and Nelson Carbajosa had filed before the Regional Trial Court, Branch 3, last January 29.

"We reiterate the fact that only the military has the motive to do the abduction. And our conclusion that the incident was abduction is based on the statements of the witnesses and the victims' families which were strongly and consistently stated during the hearing of the writ filed before the RTC," Bayan spokesperson John Birondo said.

"This is nothing new to what they have long been doing to members of progressive groups whom they accuse of being the legal fronts of the communist movement. Time and again, they kill, abduct, and torture those they tag as enemies of the state and act as if nothing happens. They are unstoppable in sowing terror in various communities where helpless civilians used to dwell in peace," Birondo added.

"The crux of the issues here is the respect for human rights which the military should accord to any member of the New People's Army considering that the same is being accorded to any member of the military in cases that they are held prisoners of war," Birondo said

"This is in respect to national and international declarations such as the Geneva Convention and Comprehensive Agreement on the Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Laws (CARHRIHL) which the government especially the AFP is not innocent of," Birondo stressed.

Birondo added that "the military's lame denial of the abduction clearly speaks of the military's filthy schemes that are meant to liquidate all movements against the Arroyo government, be it the New People's Army or legitimate people's organizations in the country."

"Gloria Arroyo's bankrupt regime is bound to fail in its battle against insurgency and all other forms of oppositions as it can never quell the people's outrage for justice and equality. For as long as there is inequality in land distribution and the workers remain exploited, insurgency and the people's movements will inevitably topple down this regime," Birondo added.