Año calls on CHR, Makabayan bloc to condemn deployment of NPA death squads in urban areas

January 5, 2021

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Tuesday urged the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and even the Congress’ Makabayan bloc to condemn  deployment of New People’s Army (NPA) death squads in urban areas to prove they are not members or fronts of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

Año made the statement after saying the five NPA rebels killed in a shootout in Rizal last month were part of the CPP’s liquidation team deployed in Southern Luzon to assassinate top national and local government leaders, police and military officers

“We can now confirm that the five NPA members killed in Barangay San Juan, Baras, Rizal were part of a death squad that was supposed to carry out the directive of CPP founder Joma Sison to assassinate government and civilian leaders,” Año said.

Año said the deployment of the NPA death squads to urban areas intends to bring the rebel’s reign of terror in the countryside to the cities.

“The PNP and AFP will do its utmost to protect the people from these terrorists in sheep’s clothing. We will crush these urban terrorist cells before they can begin their reign of terror,” he said.

Año said the initial plan of the NPA assassination unit was to establish a terrorist cell in Rizal which will house their Southern Luzon operations, bringing them closer to Metro Manila to carry out the orders of Sison.

He added the deployment of death squads is a major escalation in the terrorism program of the rebels and is clear and convincing proof that the Anti-Terrorism Council did the right thing in designating CPP and NPA as "terrorist organizations".

In the 1980s, the CPP first deployed its “sparrow units” in urban centers and murdered  policemen, military officers, and civilians in Metro Manila, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo and other areas to speed up its protracted people’s war, sow chaos, and bring down the government.

“Now they cannot hide their true colors and motive. They are really terrorists who are not seeking peace but spread fear, kill government forces to bring down the government,” Año said.

“This latest move of Joma Sison is a desperate move driven by the fact that they are losing their ground. Most of all, this is only their excuse to cause chaos in their pathetic attempt to overthrow one of the most popular governments in the world,” he said. Ella Dionisio/DMS