MANILA, Philippines — The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) has hit back at the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) after the latter condemned the New People’s Army (NPA) military action in Sorsogon, saying that the attack was under the rules of war.
On Monday, CPP information officer Marco Valbuena said that the NPA ensured that no civilian was hurt when they attacked a police unit in Pilar town of Sorsogon, as the only casualties were two police officers, including one who died in the line of duty.
CHR last Thursday condemned the NPA attack on the 504th Police Maneuver Company last February 28, which claimed the life of Police Cpl. Ryan Atos, according to Police Regional Office 5 (PRO-5) spokesperson Maj. Maria Luisa Calubaquib.
“The death of a police officer belonging to the 504th Maneuver Company of the PNP Regional Mobile Force Battalion last February 28 in Pilar, Sorsogon, is a result of a legitimate military operation of the New People’s Army against a counterinsurgency police unit,” Valbuena said.
“The operation, in line with rules of war and international humanitarian law, targeted a military detachment and ensured that no civilian was hurt,” he added.
READ: CHR calls out NPA; condemns killing of cop during attack in Sorsogon
The CPP spokesperson also faulted the CHR for not making any statement or investigation against supposed counterinsurgency operations that have targeted red-tagged civilians instead of actual communist rebels.
“The CHR, tasked primarily to serve as human rights ombudsman, has not made any statement or investigation into rampant cases of human rights violations perpetrated by AFP and PNP forces in Sorsogon,” Valbuena claimed.
“Since 2020, there have been at least 12 cases of extrajudicial killings against unarmed civilians. At least 24 civilians have been red-tagged, arbitrarily arrested and charged with unbailable crimes to prolong their unjust detention,” he added.
INQUIRER.net has asked the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police to get their side of the story regarding the CPP’s allegations. They have not issued a statement as of posting time.
This is not the first time that CHR has called the attention of the NPA after an attack: last March 2021, after five police officers were killed in an attack on a police unit at Labo, Camarines Norte, CHR told NPA that no amount of ideology can justify the killings.
The same reminder was reiterated when an NPA-planted anti-personnel landmine exploded in Masbate last June 2021, claiming the life of collegiate footballer Kieth Absalon and his cousin.
READ: No ideology can justify rights violations, CHR reminds NPA anew