The DND criticized the communists' supposed internal probe on the incident, saying it would 'never result in any kind of justice for the bereaved families.
Watch more in iWantTFC MANILA - The country's national defense and interior departments on Wednesday urged members of the New People's Army to turn over those who were responsible for the deaths of the Absalon cousins in Masbate over the weekend, saying they should be accountable for the crime.
In a statement, the Department of National Defense condemned the "violence and senseless killing" perpetrated by the armed group, noting that the use of landmines is against international law. "The CPP-NPA's persistent use of landmines is a clear violation of International Humanitarian Law. It is also undeniable proof of the communist terrorist group's utter disregard for the safety of innocent civilians," it added.
Año said the CPP-NPA should be held accountable for what happened and told those responsible to surrender to the Commission on Human Rights or "their allies in the Makabayan Bloc... so long as they face trial in a court of law." On Tuesday night, Kabataan Partylist Rep. Sarah Elago condemned the NPA operation, and said the deaths of innocent civilians would never be acceptable. "Mariing kinukundena ng Kabataan ang lahat ng atrocities at mga paglabag sa karapatang pantao at international humanitarian law. Marapat lamang ang malinaw na patakaran para matiyak ang hustisya at pananagutan dito," Elago said in a tweet.
But Interior Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya explained over TeleRadyo's "Kuwentuhang Lokal" that the government panel has been disbanded and the peace talks have been terminated, dissolving the Joint Monitoring Committee. Human Rights Watch's Carlos Conde also decried the incident, criticizing the NPA for the use of such weapons.
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