MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine government and the New People’s Army (NPA) should immediately “take necessary measures” to stop the spate of killings in the Negros Island.
This was the appeal of the Human Rights Watch (HRW), which took to task government law enforcers and the communist rebels to end “unlawful attacks” in the region after 14 individuals were gunned down in separate towns and cities in Negros Oriental since July 23.
“Responsibility for the killings remains unclear. But both the government and the NPA should take all necessary measures to end unlawful attacks, either by their forces or armed elements linked to them. Killing civilians and captured combatants are war crimes,” HRW Asia Director Brad Adams said in a statement on Tuesday.
On July 28, Anaciancino Rosalita was shot dead at a public market in Canlaon City in Negros Oriental, Five days prior, human rights lawyer Anthony Trinidad was killed in an ambush in Guihulngan City also in Negros Oriental.
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Earlier, police said the communist rebel group could be behind the series of killings in the province, noting that the NPA wants to show its strength to the public and state forces. /kga
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