A letter on the Farrazini Killing

Dear Sir,

May I call your attention on the killing of Mr. Vicente Ferrazini, a small businessman in Davao. As a family friend, I view with sympathy and concern the case of Mr. Vicente Ferrazini who was wrongly gunned down by NPA rebels last February 4. Recently, the NPA apologized for killing him, but they could never bring him back to life, back to the arms of his loving family.

This only shows that there is no justice and legal system under the NDF or CPP organization. People could be tried and meted death by a “lower NPA unit command”, as openly admitted by the NPA-MAC statement. It is therefore the NPA who “prosecute”, “judge” and execute their defenseless victims.

Where then is the “just people’s court” that they are bragging about? Where is the “due process” that they claim to champion?

Mr. Ferrazini is a civilian murdered by an NPA team. He is protected by the International Humanitarian Law as a civilian in the middle of Internal Conflict. The NDF-CPP-NPA committed themselves to CARHRIHL. But the Ferrazini murder is a clear violation of CARHRIHL and being so, an apology is not enough.

CARHRIHL is an agreement of the government and the NDF to respect human rights and the safety of civilians and non-combatants in the conduct of the internal conflict. According to that agreement which they signed in The Hague in 1998, in such case as the Ferrazini Killing, the NDF is duty bound to prosecute the guilty persons who committed it; aside from indemnifying the victims’ family with a just and reasonable amount.

The NDF’s so-called commitment to Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law is clearly a mere propaganda. This case shows that there is none, but a bag full of lies. If they will succeed and come to power(heaven forbid!) they will definitely establish a Pol Pot regime and fill mass graves with peoples’ bodies.

The NPA’s recent apology is nothing but ’crocodile tears’ shed before the public to mitigate their murderous guilt. One could be reminded of a similar case: the Digos Massacre in early 1990s. The NDF promised indemnification of the families of victims, which never happened. Now here they are again making that insincere and empty promise.

The NDF and their front organizations mounted complaints of “extra-judicial” killings and “involuntary disappearances” purportedly committed by the GMA government. Now, they are equally guilty of the same human rights violation and criminal act when they killed Ferrazini. They should stop raising the issue of “extra-judicial killings” if they temsleves commit the same crimes.

My sympathies to the family of Enting Ferrazini. Our beloved friend’s death will not be in vain. For his death has brought to the fore the reality that the
NDF and NPA are also human rights violators.

May we call the attention of the civil society on this case.

Sincerely,

Ms. Placid Penitente

Pasong Tamo, Makati City

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 Duterte hints at anti-NPA attack

SUNSTAR Davao

Thursday, February 07, 2008

SOMEBODY will have to pay for the shooting to death of businessman Vicente Ferrazinni, and from Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte’s hints, it will be the New People’s Army (NPA).

“Alam nila galit ako (They know that I’m angry). I’m not challenging but they just have to be ready,” Duterte told reporters right before a command conference with the police and military Wednesday.

The mayor, who has for the longest time been saying that while he does not agree with the armed struggle the communist rebels have been waging he respects the principles they are fighting for and has thus been averse to tagging the rebels as terrorists, now only have disgust for the rebels after their attack on Ferrazini.

“There is no redeeming factor with that brutality. I deplore that action. Nakakawala ng bilib (You lose respect for them) especially because the man was not connected at all with the decisions decried by the NPA,” Duterte said.

“If the NPA will engage the military or the police, that is understandable but for a civilian, it is outrageous.”

The mayor said the rebels are now trying to justify their attack on an unarmed civilian by claiming that Ferrazinni is their enemy because he helped the military by allowing soldiers to encamp in the family property in Catigan.

Duterte brushed this off as a puny excuse and something that shouldn’t be blamed on the slain Ferrazinni.

“It was a family decision. Para sa kanila, bahala na,” the mayor said since the land was not of much use to the family because the rebels have made it their camp even before the military came.

“That house was even occupied by the NPA several months ago. Did you hear the Ferrazinis complain publicly? Ngayon na military na naman ang gumagamit, magagalit sila. Bolahan na tayo diyan eh,” Duterte said.

In a more sober tone, Duterte admits the city cannot be sealed off from communist rebels, considering its vast territory and the city’s limited resources.

“They can enter the city especially with our limited resources and personnel. Reports have reached me that their political officers have been active in daytime. Naga-shorts lang and conducting seminars. At night time, lumalabas din but they are armed,” Duterte said.

“Diha na sila sa ComVal then Davao del Norte to Laak then lusot sa Paquibato. Dire pud sa south kay sa Catigan lusot sa Baracatan. Basta ang junction nila ang Sta. Cruz (Their route to the city takes them from Compostela Valley to Davao del Norte then to Laak [still in Davao del Norte] to enter Paquibato district of Davao City. Their entry point in the southern area is through Catigan then Baracatan. They enter through Sta. Cruz [in Davao del Sur]),” Duterte said. (GLP)

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 Mayor to village chiefs: Don’t carry guns

SUNSTAR Davao

Friday, February 08, 2008

By Carlo P. Mallo

DAVAO City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte called upon barangay captains of hinterland villages affected in the ongoing skirmishes between the military and the rebels not to show any color. This as he discouraged the village chiefs from carrying firearms.

The move came after local businessman Vicente Solis Ferrazzini was ambushed by men believed to be members of the rebel group in the downtown area last Saturday.

Extortion is eyed as the motive behind the killing of Ferrazini. “The strongest lead at the moment is the angle of extortion by the rebel group, the New People’s Army (NPA),” said Davao City Police Office Director Jaime Morente in an earlier interview.

Clashes in the hinterland barangay of Catigan in Toril District continue as the military takes offensive action against the rebel group in the area.

“They must not carry firearms, it will only aggravate the situation,” Duterte said, adding that the village chiefs must focus on ensuring that their constituents are safe.

The city mayor said the village chiefs must not quarrel with the rebel group as it is not their duty. “Mapatyan lang mo ana (you’ll get killed),” Duterte said.

Deplorable

Duterte has previously expressed disagreement to the armed struggle of the communists though he said he respects the principles they are fighting for. Duterte has been averse to tagging the rebels as terrorists.

After the ambush of Ferrazzini, the mayor chided the rebel group.

“There is no redeeming factor with that brutality. I deplore that action. Nakakawala ng bilib (You lose respect for them) especially because the man was not connected at all with the decisions decried by the NPA,” Duterte said.

“If the NPA will engage the military or the police, that is understandable but for a civilian, it is outrageous,” he added.

The mayor said the rebels are now trying to justify their attack on an unarmed civilian by claiming that Ferrazinni is their enemy because he helped the military by allowing soldiers to encamp in the family property in Catigan.

Prepared

Duterte added that in case that the skirmishes in the outskirts of the city escalate, the City Government is prepared. “We are always prepared,” Duterte said.

Reports of evacuees from Barangay Catigan after last Tuesday’s encounter between the military and the rebel group has not been confirmed.

Duterte said the City Government is prepared 24 hours for any eventuality, be it of war or natural calamities.

Breach of contract

The city mayor also said the attacks of the rebel group on civilians and its extortion activities in and around the city is not a breach of contract.

“We have never entered into any contract with the rebel group,” Duterte said. “We cannot accommodate enemies of the State.”

As to whether he is open for dialogue with the rebel group, Duterte only had this to say: “I do not see any possibility in the near future.”

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 NPA admits error in Ferrazini slay

SUNSTAR Davao

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

By Carlo P. Mallo

The New People’s Army in a “Statement of Self-Criticism on the Ferrazini Killing” sent through email by its spokesperson Rigoberto Sanchez on Monday owned up the grave mistake of killing businessman Vicente Ferrazini.

“As a matter of self-criticism, we apologize to the family of Mr. Vicente Ferrazini, as well as to the people in general for this highly regrettable occurrence,” Sanchez said.

The statement came weeks after City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte blasted the NPA for the murder of Ferrazini whom he said was an unarmed civilian.

The mayor then reminded the rebels that they have been using the Ferrazini land before as their camp, and yet the rebels never heard any complaints from the Ferrazinis.

Yet when the businessman’s family allowed the military to camp in their land in Catigan, the rebels took this against the family and killed the businessman.

Duterte had said in the past that the communist rebels should not be branded as terrorist because they are fighting for a principle, although he disagrees with their means. But with the death of Ferrazini, Duterte said he had a change of heart, even calling the rebels “bugo” (stupid).

With the admission is their resolve to undertake “appropriate and necessary courses of action” as payment for the death of Ferrazini. Sanchez said, “They are open to meet and talk with the Ferrazini family”.

The statement however did not say if they are willing to turn over their erring members for court trial. All it said was they want a “neutral channel” when they meet with the grieving family.

The statement however pointed out that the military has never apologized for any of its mistakes even after it has already committed “gross violations of human rights and international humanitarian law under the fascist Arroyo regime’s Oplan Bantay Laya I and II”.

“This is not the kind of justice that the people are looking for,” Major Rodrigo Sosmeña of the Eastern Mindanao Command said.

He added that historically, the NPA has been admitting mistakes by pointing to their “lower commanders” as the ones at fault.

Colonel Benito de Leon, spokesper son of the 10^th Infantry Division said in an interview Monday that the apology issued by the rebel group is an acknowledgement of the atrocity that they have directed against an innocent civilian.

“In this case, they should now submit to the police or the courts,” de Leon said.

Sosmeña echoed the call of de Leon for the rebel group to surrender the gunman responsible for the murder of Ferrazini.

“An apology is not enough to compensate the ruined lives of the families of their victims,” Sosmeña said. “How many more murders are still going to happen under their inhuman justice system?”

Major Medel Aguilar, chief of the 5^th Civil Relations Group, said the apology issued by the rebel group lacks sincerity as it propagandized against the government on unfounded allegations.

“Mr. Ferrazini is not the only victim of this kind of injustice, but also the many unarmed civilians the reb el group has executed on the mere suspicion of being military informants,” Aguilar said.

“Can we expect the Communist Part of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, the NPA, to apologize and indemnify the thousands of poor victims of their cold-blooded executions?” Aguilar added.

Attempts to get the reaction from the Ferrazini family failed as of press time.

Ferrazini was shot dead as he stopped for a red light while driving his car in Bankerohan last February 2, after a visit at their bakery and fruit stalls there. He died in the hospital two days later.

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 Peter Laviña to NPA: "Apology not Acccepted”

MindaNews

Wednesday, 27 February 2008 00:36

This was the response of Davao City Councilor Peter Laviña to the New People’s Army (NPA), who admitted that the killing of businessman Vicente Ferrazini was a “highly regrettable occurrence.”

For the councilor, “there is no excuse in killing an unarmed civilian” because he has no way of fighting back.

Besides, Laviña stressed, no matter what apology the NPA would do, they still could not bring back Ferrazini’s life. “This is what you get from playing God,” he lamented.

The NPA, in a public apology issued Monday, said that Ferrazini’s killing was a “highly regrettable occurrence.”

The NPA statement said their own internal investigation concluded that “the grounds on which a lower unit command of New People’s Army based their decision to mete out the particular action taken against Vicente Ferrazini are insufficient to warrant the maximum penalty of death.”

But while the NPA apologized for the misdeed, they likewise praised themselves by saying that “public admission of fault is a hallmark of the principled standpoint, viewpoint and method of the revolutionary movement.” They said it was “sharply in contrast to the terrible record of fraud and fabrication, deceitfulness and deception of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).”

Laviña, however, reminded the NPA not to compare themselves to the Armed Forces and the police because the communist rebels are operating outside the law.

The councilor, too, advised the NPA to take the blame as an organization and not just blame the “lower unit.” Crimes like the Ferrazini killing, he stressed, cause the NPA to lose support from the masses they swear to protect.

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 Leave us in peace: Ferrazini family

SUNSTAR Davao

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

By Stella A. Estremera

THE family of slain businessman Vicente S. Ferrazini wanted to go back to a life without fear as they had before Ferrazini was assassinated by communist rebels in Bankerohan, Davao City last January 4.

“We just want to be left alone to return to our normal lives and not live in fear because you don’t know who is out to shoot you,” Johnny Ferrazini, the victim’s father, said Tuesday morning.

The family members also said they would prefer not to talk to any other media and are hoping that their statement will be enough for the rebels to allow them to go back to how they were before and even be allowed to visit their Catigan farm, which Vicente has taken cared of when he was still alive.

It was Vicente who planted the mangosteen and durian trees there, they said.

The Ferrazinis have been residents and businessmen of Davao since the 1940s, with the Merco business having been started by the elder Ferrazini’s father.

The family was also one in denying that a member has issued any statement to the media as quoted by another local daily Tuesday, resenting the words used there and saying such statement could lead to bigger trouble.

“We just want to live without fear,” the father said.

The father was referring to a quotation attributed to “a member of the Ferrazini family” used by another local newspaper that said, “We will use the full force of the law in running after them (killers of Vicente).”

“We never said anything like that,” the brother Anthony said.

“We have paid more than enough, that should be the end of it, allow us to live in peace,” the distraught mother seconded.

The family gathered Tuesday as the death of Vicente haunts them anew after the New People’s Army Merardo Arce Command (NPA-MAC) admitted in an emailed statement last Monday that the meting out of the death penalty to Vicente was a mistake.

In “A Statement of Self-Criticism on the Ferrazini Killing” sent by email by the NPA-MAC dated February 25, 2008 and carrying the name Rigoberto Sanchez, the NPA said after an investigation on Vicente’s assassination, they have “established the conclusion that the grounds on which a lower unit command of NPA based their decision to mete out the particular action taken against Vicente Ferrazini are insufficient to warrant the maximum penalty of death.”

When the NPA claimed responsibility for the killing of Vicente, they accused the businessman of having helped the military.

Vicente was accused of allowing the military to use the Catigan farm to camp in.

Before the military encamped there, however, it was the NPA who was frequenting the farm.

The farm is the only area in Catigan with a virgin forest, the family said, and so they cannot do much to stop anyone from seeking shelter there.

In admitting their mistake, the NPA claims that it is now “currently undertaking appropriate and necessary courses of action related to this grievous incident.”

The statement said the NPA is also “prepared to make an indemnification” and are “open to meet and talk with the Ferrazini family via their choice of neutral channels.”

The family, while appreciating the apology, are firm in saying they just want an end to the uncertainty that they have to live with now — not knowing if they are the next target — as they never had any reason to fear for their lives before Vicente was killed.

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 Who is Centing Ferrazini ?

saestremera.multiply.com

JANUARY 4, 2008, assassins of the Ka Paking Guimbaolibot Red Partisan Brigade (KPGRPB) of the New People’s Army (NPA) shot businessman Vicente S. Ferrazzini, 44, as he stopped his vehicle for a red light at Bankerohan, this city. In claiming Ferrazzini’s assassination, the NPA said they did so because he was giving logistical support to the military. Ferrazzini died two days later at the hospital and was cremated soon after.

A MISTAKE

On February 25, 2008, the Merardo Arce Command Southern Mindanao Regional Operations Command of the NPA came out with “A statement of self-criticism on the Ferrazini (sic) killing”, wherein they admitted there was a mistake in meting out the death penalty. It was a wrong decision by a “lower unit of command” the st atement said, and a wrong decision by the KPGRPB to carry out such penalty. By then, Ferrazzini, more known as Centing, was already in ashes.

“This investigation was initiated to clear the air in the light of various reactions from within and outside the revolutionary movement,” the statement said.

The last time the rebels apologized was when there was a public outrage after the red fighters massacred 39 persons, mostly women and children, inside a United Church of Christ of the Philippines (UCCP) chapel at sitio Rano, barangay Binaton in Digos, Davao del Sur on June 25, 1989. Those who have seen the massacre aftermath whether out there at sitio Rano or just in photos will never forget that scene of women peppered with bullets with their children sheltered underneath them, also dead. Rev. Abadia Ayap, the pastor, was beheaded there. It was said that the massacre happened because the residents w ere serving as agents of the military.

After the public outrage, the NPA apologized and promised to indemnify the relatives of the victim. It’s said that they did indemnify the victims after several years.

Nineteen years later, there wasn’t the same outrage when Centing was killed. There was shock, there was anger from friends and kin, but there was silence. Even the Ferrazzini family kept quiet and not one human rights group raised a squeak. The only one who spoke up was City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte who said the decision of the NPA to kill Centing was a stupid move and that the NPA is “bugo”. And yet the apology.

Thus the question: Who is Centing?

“You want statements? Go ask the kargadors, the karitoneros in Agdao, in Bankerohan,” Centing’s mother wailed as news about the apology reached their family on February 26. What transpired and most of what was said in that breakfast with Centing’s parents at their house on that day, were requested to be kept off the record, except for the family’s stand for the rebels to “leave them in peace, allow them to live a normal life without fear, and to be allowed to go back to the Catigan farm that Centing loved”.

IDOL

But the reference to the kargadors and the karitoneros in Agdao and in Bankerohan stuck, and so Sun.Star Weekend went to the fruit stall area at the Bankerohan Public Market at noon of February 28 to get to know Centing. Unfortunately, there were no karitoneros at that time. The karitoneros converge in the morning and later in the afternoon, the tambays cum labor said.

“Halos diri kuwan gyud na sa iyaha, saludo gyud sa iyaha ba, idol ’to siya kay sa amoa sa magpuprutas ang knowledge niya ginahatag gyud niya, gina-share ma n niya sa wala kabalo (Most people here admire him because he shares his knowledge to us fruit vendors who lacked knowledge),” Boy, 44, Centing’s right hand at the Bankerohan market said.

Boy has been working with Centing for the past nine years. Boy said he was just a market laborer when the business partnership between Centing and another man fell apart. That was when Centing took him in as his storekeeper.

“Buotan kaayo ’to ba, dagko kaayong kawala ang tawhana ’to. Kung makahinumdom ko, makahilak ko ba (He was a very good man, he was a big loss. Everytime I remember his death, I can’t help but cry),” he said.

One other man hanging out at the sidewalk near Centing’s stall was Sebio, a 57-year-old jambolero, a micro-scale trader who meets deliveries of harvests and seeks out buyers right there and then at the bagsakan. He said he never had any direct dealings with Centing but he still remembers him with fondness because Centing would always chat with him.

“Dili man gud ko moinom, dili ko makauban nila diha, pero kung naa siya diri, mangumusta gyud ’to siya. Kinsa man magdahom nga moistorya ang datu sa parehas namo (I don’t drink liquor so I never hanged out with him here but whenever we meet, he would ask me how I was and talked with me. Who would expect that from a rich man, especially because we are poor),” he said. “Dili siya strikto (He does not boss people around).”

He also remembers Centing as someone who extended a hand: carrying goods with the kargadors and giving out goods as well to those who do not have.

“Inig naa kay kinahanglan basta muduol lang ka, tabangan ka niya (When you are in need, just go to him and he will help),” he said.

“Dili matapobre, maghalobilo sa mga ubos nga tao. Matabanganon. Asa ka makakita ug milyonaryo apil sa inom diri. Kanang unsay baso sa grupo, didto pud siya mutagay (He didn’t look down on the poor. He mingled with the poor and he was always ready to help. Where can you find a millionaire who would drink with people here. He would drink in the glass that the men here are using),” said Marboy, 45, a fruit trader, who is proud to say he and Centing were “kumpare”.

“Kining mga tindahana, pautangon na, kanang mga walay kapital. Wala lagi’y libog (He would lend money to the vendors around. Those who do not have capital can ask him for help. He never caused trouble),” Marboy said.
Marboy said the only difference between him and Centing was that Centing owned lands. Marboy said he came from a poor family but was able to earn a college degree. The Ferrazzinis were their neighbors in Bacaca when they were still kids, he recalled.

Whenever he went the rounds of the neighborhood to sell bananas, Marboy said, he would jeer at Centing calling him “Amerkanong hilaw” because of the color of his skin and his being “Bisayang dako”. The next time their paths crossed was at the Bankerohan market one and a half years ago. There he saw a Centing who was one of the boys, still with a skin that set him apart, still “Bisayang dako”.

Another market laborer, Jun, 32, claims Centing as his “amo” (master).
“Sa oras nga kulang sila ug trabahante, tapos kami bakante, mao ’to kuhaon ko (Whenever they lacked hands, and we didn’t have work, he hired us),” Jun said, adding he would also be taken in as an “extrador” driver, whenever Centing needed one.

BIG VOICED BIG MAN

Centing is remembered most for his big voice and that was what endeared him even more to the poor in the market.

“Lahi man gud to siya sa amoang panit gud, so syempre, kanang siya gud ang nagdala gud sa amoa isipon namo nga amo gyud na siya. Nagtingala na lang mi nga magtabang siya sa amo (His skin was not like ours, so, since he was hiring us for some work we regarded him as our master. We were thus surprised when he was always there to work with us and help us),” Jun said.
“Siya, dako lang siyang tingog mao nang murag istrikto. Pero kung imo lang tukion ang iyang gisulti, tama man ang pangasaba gud. Tama gyud ba, ensakto (He had a big voice so you will think he was bossy. But if you listen to what he was telling you, you will understand that he was right in telling you what you did wrong),” Boy said.

“Ari diri na siya mangaon dako to siya ug tingog. Pero sa tinuod lang pakisama siya sa tao parehas nako. Sa amoa, maayo gyud siya. Kami sa amoa magproblema mi mutabang siya, ug siya magproblema wala man mi ikahatag, maminaw na lang ’mi (He ate with us here and he had a loud voice. But he was easy to get along with. When we had problems, he would help. When he had problems, since we do not have anything to give, we would just listen to him),” Jun said. “Ug muabot si Centing, magpalung-ag na ug kan-on, kaon mi tanan. Dili siya dalo sa amo nga daghang walay kabalo, sa iyaha wala na (When Centing comes over, he would have rice cooked and we would eat all together. He was never greedy. He mingled with us who barely had any education, he didn’t mind our being poor),” he said.

Jun also recalled that in the times that he was asked to drive Centing to the Ferrazzini farmlands, Centing would tell him that it was “their land”.
“Atoa ning yuta, ato ha, ato. Syempre kami, makahuna-huna nga apil diay ’mi ani. Kapamilya na gyud ’ta (He’d say this is ours, ours. Us, who were with him would feel that we were part of all he was doing, that he regarded us as family),” he said.

That he was buddies with the laborers in the market was underlined when this writer approached a female fruit vendor to ask about Centing.
“Kanang sa unahan ma’am, kanang mga istambay nga mga lalaki (You go over there where there are men hanging out),” the female vendor said when asked whom she would recommend to talk about Centing because she didn’t want to be interviewed.

HELPING THE UPLANDERS

Centing’s generosity did not end at the marketplace, Boy said, saying that in their travels to the different farmlands that Centing loved to visit, he would mingle with the lumads there, eat with them, and help them.

“Gikan sa buntag hangtud sa gabii sa siyam ka tuig, bisan asa mi makaabot sa bukid, musaka ra na siya, bisan asa na mokaon, maulaw na lang gud ang mga pobre sa iyaha (From morning till evening in the nine years I worked with him, we have gone to a lot of mountainous places and he never hesitated to join the people there in their homes. He would eat anywhere and anything such that the poor homeowners would be the ones embarrassed instead),” Boy said.

What Boy remembers most, however, is how Centing would find ways to help the lumads in the mountains, especially when they need medical assistance.
“Kanang mga indigenous na mga tao sa bukid, mga bungi, iya nang tabangan ba. Siya pa ang maningkamot na gikan sa bukid makaanhi sa Dabaw aron matambalan. Kanang mga tibihon, mga tigulang, iya nang dalhon diri (He’d help the indigenous people. He wo uld bring down those who have harelip so they can be operated on. He will find a way to bring them down to the city. Those who are suffering from tuberculosis, the elderly, he would bring them here for medical assistance),” he said.

REVOLUTIONARY TAX

Marboy, however, has another story to tell about the revolutionary tax the rebels were demanding from Centing’s family.

Centing told him about this problem six months before his death, Marboy said.
“Sa iya, kung unta madaa ug istorya, istoryahan na lang (For him, if this can be negotiated, he would prefer to negotiate),” Marboy said because they refused to give money.

“Kay kung kwarta ipampatay man lang na. Mas maayo nang tambal ug pagkaon kay makatabang gyud (If they give money, this can be used to kill. They prefer to give medicines and food because these can really be of help),” Marboy said.

Apparently, the rebels who were knocking on his doors refused to negotiate, and so on January 4, Centing was shot when he was all by himself just a short distance from where the men who regarded him as their “idol” were.

“The result of this investigation established the conclusion that the grounds on which a lower unit command of New People’s Army based their decision to mete out the particular action taken against Vicente Ferrazini (sic) are insufficient to warrant the maximum penalty of death. Further, the implementation by the Ka Paking Guimbaolibot Red Partisan Brigade (KPGRPB) of the said flawed decision by a lower unit command of the NPA was likewise found incorrect,” read the NPA statement emailed to news outlets and signed by one Rigoberto Sanchez.

“Sayop gyud, dakong sayop (It was a big mistake),” the men in Bankerohan agree.