The Philippine Army is calling on Negrenses to stand up against violence amid the summary executions perpetrated by remnants of the New People’s Army (NPA).
Seven civilians were killed in Negros Occidental in the past weeks.
In a statement on Monday, Brig. Gen. Orlando Edralin, commander of 303rd Infantry Brigade based in Murcia, condemned the violence, calling it “not only abhorrent but also a gross violation of human rights and the principles of humanity.”
“I am calling all Negrenses to report the presence of NPA terrorists in your community and let our voices resonate in demanding an end to the senseless killings of innocent civilians,” he said.
Edralin asked NPA remnants and their allied armed groups to immediately stop the indiscriminate acts of violence and instead engage in peaceful means with the government to address their grievances.
“It is distressing to learn that innocent men, women, and children have fallen victim to these senseless acts, causing immeasurable pain and suffering to their families and communities,” he said.
The victims, who were tagged by the NPA as “military agents” in their press releases, were killed between the second week of April and the first week of May in various remote villages of Negros Occidental.
Earlier the 3rd Infantry Division expressed support for the motu proprio investigation of the Commission on Human Rights into the killings.*PNA