Civilians hurt in NPA attack get P10,000 each

DIGOS CITY, Philippines—Communist guerrillas on Monday paid P10,000 each as compensation to rescue workers who were wounded in a land-mine explosion set off by the guerrillas in a move that the military said was an admission of guilt.

The guerrillas apologized for the injuries that the rescue workers had suffered during the guerrilla attack on government soldiers in Bansalan, Davao del Sur province, on March 2.

The church group Exodus for Justice and Peace (EJP), led by Bishop Modesto Villasanta of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines, served as a conduit of the funds.

Those who received the guerrilla compensation were Genaro Dumayas Sr., Bonita de la Cruz, Arnel Comandante Veloso and Alberto Simbajon Cabual.

They are members of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) who were on their way to fetch wounded soldiers when their ambulance was hit by a land mine detonated by New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas.

Senior Supt. Michael John Dubria, Davao del Sur police chief, said the NPA admission would help in the prosecution of guerrilla leaders involved in the attack.

“There could never be any justification for the incident. The victims are civilians and were in an ambulance but still, they were targeted,” Dubria said.

Genaro Dumayas Jr., whose father was among those wounded, said he was thankful that the NPA admitted its mistake.

“It is not the money that matters, what I am asking for is that this incident to not happen again,” Dumayas Jr. said.

Villasanta said EJP served only as a third party facilitator.

“We are undertaking the role of a mediator,” he said.

Davao del Sur Gov. Claude Bautista said he was at least thankful that the NPA compensated the civilian victims of the guerrilla attack.  Reports from Allan Nawal, Eldie Aguirre and Orlando Dinoy, Inquirer Mindanao