NPA rebels kill pro-government militia in South RP

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / August 5, 2009) – Communist rebels have seized a pro-government militia and killed him in front of his family in the southern Philippine province of Compostela Valley, the military said on Wednesday.

The military said Benito Goso was seized by New People’s Army rebels in his house in the village

“Goso and his family were about to sleep when fully armed NPAs barged into their house shortly before 10 p.m. and forcibly took the unarmed victim and killed him despite the plea of his crying wife and children,” said Major Genera; Reynaldo Mapagu, commander of the Army’s 10th Infantry Division.

“These people are merciless, such barbaric act has no place in a civilized world. They have been repeatedly violating every conceivable law of the land and they do not respect human rights. The NPAs clearly and totally put the International Humanitarian Law and the International Convention on Armed Conflict in utter disregard.”

“It is unlawful and it is immoral to kill an unarmed individual, much more inside his home and in front of his family. They have not taken into consideration the trauma that the children may suffer. They are plain criminals without any ideology whatsoever,” Mapagu said.

The motive of the killing was unknown and there was no immediate statement from the NPA, which is fighting for the past four decades for the establishment of a Maoist state in the country. (Mindanao Examiner)