Generals Año and Baladad Must Answer for Their War Crimes

The National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) condemns in the strongest terms possible the war crimes committed by Generals Año and Baladad in the extrajudicial killings of hors d’combat, NPA Commander Leoncio Pitao (Kumander Parago) and Medic Vanessa “Kyle”Limpag on June 28, 2015 in Purok 9, Barangay Panalom, Paquibato District, Davao City.

Commader Parago was wounded and had ran out of bullets, when troops under Generals Año and Baladad, summarily executed him in flagrant violation of the International Humanitarian Law strictly prohibiting such action against a combatant who is already hors d’ combat. The troops led by Lt. Col.  Rodney Intal of the 69th Infantry Battalion riddled him with bullets and shot him in the head. Autopsy results are proof of this war crime by Generals Año, Baladad and their troops.

NPA Medic, Vanessa “Ka Kyle”Limpag, who was caring for the sick Commander Parago, was unarmed. She raised her arms and shouted “I am a medic! Do not finish off Commander Parago! He is sick!” She was razed to the ground. She died instantly. Killing an unarmed medic, a civilian according to the Geneva Conventions and Protocols, is a war crime. It is killing a hors d’ combat.

The blatant violations of International Humanitarian Law are likewise flagrant violations of the GRP-NDFP Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) signed by GRP and NDFP Negotiating Panels on March 16, 1998 and approved by their respective Principals later in 1998.

Generals Año and Baladad, Lt. Col. Intal and other officers and soldiers involved in aforesaid flagrant violations of International Humanitarian Law and the CARHRIHL must be held accountable for their war crimes!

Justice for the families of Commander Parago and Medic Vanessa Limpag!

Luis G. Jalandoni