DOJ indicts alleged CPP-NPA members for death of 9-year-old

The Department of Justice will file charges against several alleged members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) for the death of a nine-year-old civilian in Batangas.

In a resolution released on December 27, respondents Isagani Isita, Junalice Arante-Isita, Mariano Bico, Gilbert Orr, and two others with aliases Joey/Elon/Edel/Analinda/Jorel/Jonas and Ching/Marcel/Allen/Jane/Daniel were indicted for murder and violation of the Anti-Terrorism Act.

The DOJ said the information will be filed at the Regional Trial Court of Batangas.

According to the DOJ, the case stemmed from the encounter at Barangay Ginhawa, Batangas on July 18 which led to the death of a nine-year-old civilian and the injury of a soldier.

“After evaluation of the evidence, the Panel of Prosecutors found sufficient evidence to hold respondents for trial,” it said in a press briefer.

“While it may appear that the murder victim was not the direct target of herein respondents and was just caught in the line of fire when the respondents fired upon members of the Philippine Army, her death clearly was the result of the unlawful acts perpetrated by the respondents,” it added.

The DOJ said the respondents were armed with shotguns, M16 rifles and high-powered firearms, bullets, and improvised blasting machines.

“Clearly, respondents’ use of high-powered firearms seriously endangered the lives of the members of the Philippine Army and consummated in injury and death,” it said.

The respondents were identified to be members of the sub-regional military area-4C, Southern Tagalog regional party committee, according to the DOJ.

In a statement Thursday, CPP accused DOJ of covering up for AFP in connection to the death of the child.

“The CPP denounces the DOJ for its blatant cover-up of the crime of the 59th IB in the killing of 9-year-old Kyllene Casao last July 18, 2022 in Batangas. Contrary to its name, the DOJ is committing a gross travesty of justice,” CPP spokesperson Marco Valbuena said.

In response, Justice spokesperson Mico Clavano in a message to reporters said the agency goes where the evidence is.

“The evidence we have now point at those CPP-NPA members against whom we will be filing cases against. They can take their statements to court and present their supporting evidence to prove what they are saying is true. Otherwise, it's all bark - no bite,” Clavano said.

“We hope for peace and stability for our country. If what they are fighting for is their ideology, let's do it like civilized people. Bring them out through the proper channels. Let us stop the violence,” he added.

Valbuena said there was no NPA unit in the area at that time.

He said a unit of the 59th Infantry Battalion positioned nearby an elementary school had fired indiscriminately following an encounter in a different area, hitting the child.

“The soldiers were apparently trigger-happy following an armed encounter between the NPA and another unit of the 59th IB in Sitio Amatong in the same barangay, which is separated from Sitio Centro by high mountains,” Valbuena said.

For his part, AFP spokesperson Colonel Medel Aguilar said it would be better to reach out to the DOJ for their findings.—LDF/AOL, GMA Integrated News