• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Sentrong Alyansa ng mga Mamamayan para sa Bayan (SAMBAYANAN), composed of former rebels in Negros and Panay, have slammed and condemned the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, New People’s Army, for a series of murder of innocent civilians in the Negros Island Region.
The condemnation came after the CPP marked its 57th founding anniversary on December 26.
In a statement, SAMBAYANAN and its allied organizations said they are united in strongly condemning the decades-long pattern of violence, terror, and brutal killing of innocent civilians perpetrated by the CPP-NPA, especially in the peaceful communities of Negros Island.
As the CPP marks its 57th anniversary, we are once again confronted with the stark reality of an ideology that has, for over half a century, brought nothing but fear, suffering, and bloodshed to the Filipino people. The recent, documented killings in Negros—where innocent farmers, barangay officials, and community members have been summarily executed after being arbitrarily branded as “military assets” without truth, trial, or humanity—are not acts of resistance; they are crimes against humanity, SAMBAYANAN said.
It added that the continued use of “spy-tagging” by the NPA remains a desperate weapon to silence dissent and maintain control through fear in communities that have long rejected their violent agenda.
SAMBAYANAN asserted that no ideology can justify the murder of unarmed civilians and the right to life is a fundamental human right that the CPP-NPA consistently violates.
Stressing that silence is complicity, the group called on all sectors of society, human rights advocates, civil society organizations, and academic institutions to unequivocally denounce the acts of terrorism.
Refusing to condemn these killings exposes a blatant hypocrisy in the face of true human rights advocacy, Winefredo Doblizo Jr, coordinator of SAMBAYANAN Panay and Negros, said in the statement.
The group also expressed full support of the law enforcement agencies to pursue justice for the victims and hold the perpetrators accountable for their actions.*
