Tuesday, February 26, 2008 NPA admits error in Ferrazini slay By Carlo P. Mallo
The New People's Army in a "Statement of Self-Criticism on the Ferrazini Killing" sent through email by its spokesperson Rigoberto Sanchez on Monday owned up the grave mistake of killing businessman Vicente Ferrazini.
"As a matter of self-criticism, we apologize to the family of Mr. Vicente Ferrazini, as well as to the people in general for this highly regrettable occurrence," Sanchez said.
The statement came weeks after City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte blasted the NPA for the murder of Ferrazini whom he said was an unarmed civilian.
The mayor then reminded the rebels that they have been using the Ferrazini land before as their camp, and yet the rebels never heard any complaints from the Ferrazinis.
Yet when the businessman's family allowed the military to camp in their land in Catigan, the rebels took this against the family and killed the businessman.
Duterte had said in the past that the communist rebels should not be branded as terrorist because they are fighting for a principle, although he disagrees with their means. But with the death of Ferrazini, Duterte said he had a change of heart, even calling the rebels "bugo" (stupid).
With the admission is their resolve to undertake "appropriate and necessary courses of action" as payment for the death of Ferrazini. Sanchez said, "They are open to meet and talk with the Ferrazini family".
The statement however did not say if they are willing to turn over their erring members for court trial. All it said was they want a "neutral channel" when they meet with the grieving family.
The statement however pointed out that the military has never apologized for any of its mistakes even after it has already committed "gross violations of human rights and international humanitarian law under the fascist Arroyo regime's Oplan Bantay Laya I and II".
"This is not the kind of justice that the people are looking for," Major Rodrigo Sosmeña of the Eastern Mindanao Command said.
He added that historically, the NPA has been admitting mistakes by pointing to their "lower commanders" as the ones at fault.
Colonel Benito de Leon, spokesperson of the 10th Infantry Division said in an interview Monday that the apology issued by the rebel group is an acknowledgement of the atrocity that they have directed against an innocent civilian.
"In this case, they should now submit to the police or the courts," de Leon said.
Sosmeña echoed the call of de Leon for the rebel group to surrender the gunman responsible for the murder of Ferrazini.
"An apology is not enough to compensate the ruined lives of the families of their victims," Sosmeña said. "How many more murders are still going to happen under their inhuman justice system?"
Major Medel Aguilar, chief of the 5th Civil Relations Group, said the apology issued by the rebel group lacks sincerity as it propagandized against the government on unfounded allegations.
"Mr. Ferrazini is not the only victim of this kind of injustice, but also the many unarmed civilians the rebel group has executed on the mere suspicion of being military informants," Aguilar said.
"Can we expect the Communist Part of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, the NPA, to apologize and indemnify the thousands of poor victims of their cold-blooded executions?" Aguilar added.
Attempts to get the reaction from the Ferrazini family failed as of press time.
Ferrazini was shot dead as he stopped for a red light while driving his car in Bankerohan last February 2, after a visit at their bakery and fruit stalls there. He died in the hospital two days later.
