DILG: Makabayan Bloc deceiving kin of Masbate mine blast victim

The Department of the Interior and Local Government on Thursday slammed the Makabayan Bloc for urging the Absalon family to file a complaint before the Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC) for the death of FEU athlete Kieth in a landmine blast in Masbate last Sunday.

In a statement, DILG spokesperson Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said the JMC no longer exists as peace talks between the government and the Communist Party of the Philippines has ended.

“The Joint Monitoring Committee was disbanded many years back. It no longer exists,” Malaya said.

“It’s unfortunate that the Makabayan Bloc is misleading the Absalon family who is demanding justice for the death of Keith and Nolven Absalon,” he added.

According to Malaya, the Makabayan Bloc is giving the Absalon family false hopes.

Earlier, the House of Representatives Makabayan Bloc said the JMC accepts complaints on the non-compliance of the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New People's Army, or the government and its security forces on the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL).

Instead of filing a complaint before the JMC, Malaya said the government authorities, together with the family, will file cases against the perpetrators before the courts for them to face trial. 

Likewise, Malaya urged the House bloc to pressure the CPP-NPA to turn over the perpetrators of the Masbate City landmine attack to the Commission on Human Rights.

Malaya said: “The DILG challenges the Makabayan Bloc and their allied organizations to pressure the CPP-NPA to turn over those responsible and to condemn the CPP-NPA for manufacturing, stockpiling, transporting, and using anti-personnel mines all over the country,” he said.

On Sunday, a bomb and gun attack perpetrated by the NPA killed college football player Kieth, 21, and his relative Nolven. —LBG/RSJ, GMA News