THE 303rd Infantry Brigade (IB) of the Philippine Army has condemned the Communists Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) for killing a member of the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (Cafgu) Active Auxiliary (CAA) in Vallehermoso town, Negros Oriental on September 1, 2021.

Cerilo Paderna, 51, of Barangay Pinocauan in the said town and assigned at Maglahos Patrol Base under the 62nd Infantry Battalion, succumbed to multiple wounds when he was shot by 10 armed men believed to be members of the CPP-NPA’s Central Negros Front 1 in Sitio Basyao, Barangay Pinocauan.

Items recovered from the scene of the crime included three pieces of fired M16 rifle ammunition, five fired Caliber 45 pistol ammunition, one Caliber 45 cartridge and a slug of Caliber 5.56mm.

Brigadier General Inocencio Pasaporte, commander of 303rd IB, said this inhumane act of the CPP-NPA terrorists must be condemned to full extent.

Pasaporte said it is a desperate move to kill innocent civilians just to show that their senseless organization is not in continuing defeat in Negros.

“We pity those Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) members whose spiritual and moral values have been destroyed by a senseless armed struggle and resorted to this kind of violence,” he said.

The army official further said that “your army in Negros extends our deepest sympathy to the family, friends and loved ones of Paderna who are currently grieving for their loss during this difficult time of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.”

The 303rd assured that together with the Philippine National Police, they will assist the family in filing charges against the perpetrators.

It will also urge the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and other human rights advocacy groups to investigate the murder of Paderna.

Pasaporte also called on the CPP-NPA to lay down their arms, abandon the armed struggle and join the mainstream society for the attainment of just and lasting peace.

The Leonardo Panaligan Command of the NPA’s Central Negros Guerrilla Front, meanwhile, alleged that Paderna was behind the raid against “Ka Joshua” and “Ka Minggoy” in Sitio Natae, Barangay Bucalan in Canlaon City, Negros Oriental in 2012.

The group, in a statement, said Paderna is one of the three targets of the NPA “based on the offenses they committed against the revolutionary movement.”

It clarified that not all Cafgu members are being targeted by the NPA, adding that "this will serve as warning to the members of Cafgu and military informant against the CPP-NPA."