CPP: Camarines Norte attack observed int'l rules of war

Invoking "international rules on the conduct of war," the Communist Party of the Philippines said Tuesday that the New People’s Army attack in Camarines Norte that left five cops dead last Friday was justified. 

In a statement, the CPP said, “The NPA raid in Barangay Dumagmang, Labo, Camarines Norte was a legitimate military action consistent with international rules on the conduct of war.” 

It added that “the target, a counterinsurgency outpost of highly-trained police special action forces, was a legitimate military target.”

The communist group’s was done in response to the Commission on Human Rights’ (CHR) denunciation of the killing of the five police officers, and the alleged use of teenage soldiers in the raid.

According to the CPP, the cops who were killed in the raid were fully armed and defended themselves.

It also claimed that three other police officers who surrendered were treated well by the NPA, adding that medics of the NPA unit gave the injured troops first aid before leaving the battle zone.

“We urge the foot soldiers of the AFP and PNP who find themselves in battle with the NPA, especially a superior NPA force, to choose to surrender and submit their firearms in order to avoid the loss of lives,” it said.

Moreover, the CPP said, “The NPA assures enemy troops who surrender that no harm will befall them and that their rights under the Geneva Conventions governing the conduct of war will be respected.” 

‘Murder’

Sought for a comment, PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Ildebrandi Usana pointed out that the CPP violated the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide and Other Crimes Against Humanity.

“They simply committed murder,” Usana told GMA News Online in a text message on Wednesday.

According to Usana, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) is preparing to file the necessary charges in court in connection with the incident.

On Saturday, police said five police officers were killed while two others were injured in last Friday's clash with communist guerrillas in Labo.

PNP officer-in-charge Police Lieutenant General Eleazar said a platoon was deployed to a road construction project in the area after the construction company received a demand letter from the rebels.

The PNP said a letter from the CPP-NPA-National Democratic Front demanded the company to pay between 3 to 5 percent of the cost of the Labo-Tagkawayan road project for immunity from harassment during the construction period.

It added that the communist guerrillas threatened to burn the company’s equipment if their demands are not met.

While securing the road project, seven members of a police platoon were ambushed at 9:45 a.m. at Purok 6 of Barangay Dumagmang, according to the PNP.

Eleazar paid a visit the funeral service in Daet town honoring the fallen cops. —LBG/RSJ, GMA News