PRWC
The Communist Party of the Philippines (CCP) strongly condemned the “disproportionate use of force” or excessive use of firepower against units of the New People’s Army in Bukidnon last week of December. This violates international humanitarian law which guides the conduct of modern warfare.
The Tactical Air Wing of the 4th ID dropped four bombs on a guerrilla camp in Barangay Can-ayan, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon on December 25, 2023. Two days later, it dropped more bombs in Sitio Bagong Lipunan, Barangay Linabo in the town of Quezon. The dropping of several 250-pound bombs, and the sowing of terror among the people by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in Bukidnon, was excessive and indiscriminate.
The bombing killed 10 individuals who were then in the NPA camp. The bodies of the killed were mangled due to the AFP’s use of excessively powerful bombs, reports indicate. The AFP also used ATMOS 2000 howitzers bought by the AFP from Israel.
The use of powerful bombs is “inherently indiscriminate”, endangers the lives and livelihoods of civilians and brings extensive destruction to the environment. In reality, the impact of the AFP’s aerial bombardment is beyond ground zero. It disrupted the peace, caused widespread fear, panic and trauma to the residents of the nearby communities and destroyed mountain resources that are their source of food and livelihood.
The AFP carried out the attack amid the traditional holiday celebrations and a two-day unilateral ceasefire by the CPP on December 25, 2023 to December 26, 2023 night.
