5 farmworkers killed in Rizal shootout were Joma Sison’s hitmen, says Año

MANILA, Philippines — Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Tuesday said that the five farmworkers who were killed during a December 17 shootout in Baras, Rizal were not just suspected members of the communist movement, but were also alleged hitmen of the New People’s Army with orders to carry out assassinations.

“We can now confirm that the five NPA members killed in Barangay San Juan, Baras, Rizal were part of a death squad that was supposed to carry out the directive of [Communist Party of the Philippines founding chairman] Joma Sison to assassinate government and civilian leaders,” Año said in a statement.

“Isang tagumpay para sa atin na napigilan ang mga ganitong mga operasyon ng NPA lalo pa’t ito’y isang tuwirang pagbabanta sa buhay ng mga pinuno ng bansa at maging ng mga sibilyan,” he added.

(This is an achievement for us to halt the NPA operations especially that they are threats to the lives of leaders in the country as well as to civilians.)

Earlier this month, CPP announced that there is a standing order for its armed wing to form partisan teams to punish government forces who “committed bloody crimes against the people.”

Last month, the military killed supposed members of the NPA in Barangay San Juan, Baras, Rizal for reportedly conducting  “criminal and terrorist” activities through extortion.

Human rights group Karapatan, however, said the fatalities — identified as Vilma Salabao, Wesley Obmerga, Jhonatan Alberga, Niño Alberga, and Carlito Zonio — were farm caretakers , and not rebels.

EDV