THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has submitted to the United Nations (UN) a report on the atrocities committed by the New People’s Army (NPA) against civilians and their properties in the hope that appropriate charges for violation of international humanitarian law will be filed against the communist group.
The AFP said that since 2010, the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) caused 532 violent incidents, including the destruction of civilian-owned properties.
The data were collected by the AFP-Human Rights Office (AFPHRO) from field units.
The report was submitted to Signe Poulsen, representative to the Philippines of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and Gustavo Gonzales, UN resident and humanitarian coordinator in the Philippines.
The Commission on Human Rights was given a copy of the report.
AFPHRO chief Colonel Joel Alejandro Nacnac said cited the NPA's “nationwide pattern of organized, continuing and systematic scheme aimed at terrorizing communities and generating funds.”
“These unlawful activities constitute violation of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law as well as local laws such as RA 9851,” he said.
AFP Chief of Staff Gilbert Gapay said submitting such a report is their way of informing the international human rights bodies of the NPA’s “persistent disregard of human rights and international humanitarian law by destroying civilian properties.”
“With this report, we hope to expose the violence perpetrated by the CTG. The AFP, through its Human Rights Office, will continuously coordinate with the appropriate agencies in this whole-of-nation approach towards just and lasting peace,” he said.
The government recently created the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict to further strengthen its campaign against terrorism and insurgency. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo / SunStar Philippines)