Military willing to help victims of NPA atrocities

MANILA -- The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is more than willing to help individuals or groups victimized by New People’s Army (NPA) atrocities.

Col. Noel Detoyato, AFP public affairs office chief, said the military is more than willing to help individuals or groups wanting to charge the communist rebels in court for the atrocities they suffered.

He issued this comment when asked what the AFP can do to make communist rebels liable for the crimes they have committed over the years.

“The AFP can assist those groups who wants to formally charge the CPPNPA-NDF (Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front) with formal complaints in our local courts and by using the provisions of IHL (International Humanitarian Law) in the International Courts and the UN tribunal by providing them with records of incidents of violation of human rights and provisions of IHL,” Detoyato said in a message to the Philippine News Agency Sunday.

Earlier, the AFP official said the NPA attacks and destruction of civilian targets highlights its aim of pressuring businesses to give in to their extortion plans.

The wanton attacks also highlighted the communist rebels’ terroristic inclinations, he added.

“The burning spree of heavy equipment being perpetrated by the CPP-NPA (Communist Party of the PhilippinesNew People’s Army) is meant to continue with their terrorism plans and to pressure the companies to give in to their extortion demands,” Detoyato said.

The NPAs also target the equipment of construction companies because they are soft and undefended and destroying them will delay and prevent the government from bringing basic services to rural communities.

The NPA is listed as a terror organization by the United States and the European Union.