CASE AGAINST THE NPA. Brig. Gen. Edgardo de Leon, commander of the Army’s 403rd Brigade, discusses a point during a news conference following the filing of case against members of the New People’s Army for alleged violation of the International Humanitarian Law at the Hall of Justice in Upper Carmen, Wednesday. Beside him is Merlynn Uy, state prosecutor for northern Mindanao. (photo by Jigger J. Jerusalem)
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By JIGGER J. JERUSALEM
Correspondent

THE Army’s 403rd Brigade filed a case for violation of the International Humanitarian Law (IHL) before a local court here Wednesday against some members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Bukidnon even as its commander pointed out that no civilian should be harmed or killed in the ongoing conflict between communist rebels and state forces.

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CASE AGAINST THE NPA. Brig. Gen. Edgardo de Leon, commander of the Army’s 403rd Brigade, discusses a point during a news conference following the filing of case against members of the New People’s Army for alleged violation of the International Humanitarian Law at the Hall of Justice in Upper Carmen, Wednesday. Beside him is Merlynn Uy, state prosecutor for northern Mindanao. (photo by Jigger J. Jerusalem)

Brig. Gen. Edgardo de Leon, brigade commander, said the case was in connection with the attack carried out by the NPA in Sitio Aurora, Barangay Santo Niño, Manolo Fortich town, Bukidnon on May 28, 2019.

The case filed was for violation of RA 9851, otherwise known as the Crimes against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity Act.

The 403rd Brigade covers the areas of Bukidnon, Cagayan de Oro, and Misamis Oriental.

The case was filed before the 25th branch of the Regional Trial Court, the court designated by the Supreme Court here to hear IHL-related cases.

During the attack, according to the military, the insurgents fired on village watchmen, captured one of them and allegedly treated him inhumanely while the guerrillas burned vehicles.

De Leon said the incident was owned by the rebels through a public statement made by Pia Paraiso, an NPA spokesperson.

Witnesses were also able to identify the perpetrators when shown photos of the suspects.

De Leon said the act was a clear violation of RA 9851.

“The NPA, as a party to the armed conflict, must comply with the IHL, foremost of which is the protection of civilian lives and properties. They must not violate the IHL. Everything they do must comply with the IHL,” he told reporters during a news conference right after submitting to the court a prosecutor’s resolution.

He said the filing of the case was just the first as the military has also compiled reports on the NPA’s previous alleged IHL violations in the past few months, including the destruction of private properties such as farm equipment and vehicles in Bukidnon and other areas.

“We have documented the incidents; we have witnesses. We showed photos to victims and they identified the assailants. They owned up to these atrocities, these attacks on non-military targets. They must answer,” de Leon said.

Rommel Alonto, Bukidnon provincial prosecutor, identified the respondents as Omben a.k.a. Ronron and Jhon, Lino Namatidong a.k.a. Dahun, Mylen Colita a.k.a. Maymay, and Toto Taquin a.k.a. Jepoy.

Alonto said the suspects are believed to be members of the sub-regional committees 1 and 2, and Guerrilla Front 89 under the North Central Mindanao Regional Committee of the NPA.

In the resolution, the complainant was identified as Ramiro Melgo, a barangay tanod member in Sto. Niño, who was allegedly handcuffed and maltreated by rebels during the May 28 attack.

“He (Melgo) was not armed and not part of the conflict. But he was subjected to cruel and inhumane treatment,” Alonto said.

Alonto said prosecutors are preparing more cases to be filed against NPA rebels.

The same day, a group with anti-NPA placards, with some wearing face masks, stood outside the Hall of Justice in Upper Carmen. They condemned the NPA.

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