INAKO ng Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army ang pagkamatay ng football player na si Keith Absalon at kanyang pinsan na nasabugan ng landmine sa Masbate City nitong Linggo.
Sa kalatas, sinabi ng CPP na nalulungkot ito sa pangyayari at sinisi ang insidente sa isang unit ng NPA na pumalpak sa military action nito sa Brgy. Anas.
“The entire CPP and NPA take full responsibility for the tragedy. There is no justification for the aggravation this has caused the Absalon family,” ayon sa komunistang grupo.
Idinagdag nito na iniimbestigahan na nila ang pangyayari.
“The lessons that will be drawn should guide the NPA to avoid such unfortunate incidents in the future and strengthen its resolve to serve and defend the people,” hirit pa ng CPP.
“We fervently hope that the Absalon family, their relatives and friends, and the entire Filipino people can accept our profoundest apologies, self-criticism and willingness to extend any appropriate form of indemnification,” sabi pa ng grupo.
Kinondena naman ng Commission on Human Rights ang paggamit ng CPP-NPA ng landmine dahil paglabag ito sa International Humanitarian Law (IHL).
“Not only do they cause exceptionally severe injuries, suffering, and death, anti-personnel landmines also fail to distinguish between civilians and combatants, such as what happened in this case,” ayon sa CHR.
Nasawi si Keith at pinsan niyang si Nolven nang masabugan ng IED habang nagbibisikleta sa Brgy. Anas alas-6:15 ng umaga noong Linggo. Sugatan naman ang anak ni Nolven.
