The killing of the Davao businessman Vicente Ferrazini has turned into a battle for the hearts and minds of the people, with both the Communist New People’s Army (NPA) and the Philippine Army using it to lash back at each other. While admitting that the killing was a mistake, the NPA said in an emailed statement that they’re far better off than the Philippine Army, who never admitted the killings of political activists and human rights violations in the militarized countryside. The Philippine Army lashed back at the NPA, saying that no amount of public apology will bring back to life the innocent civilians that died of the purge, and asked the NPA to give up arms. Davao Today decides to publish both the NPA and the AFP statements here, together with the “love letter to the NPA” that the grieving Ferrazini family earlier faxed to the media.
AFP to NPA: More apologies, no more killing please
A love letter to the NPA
The NPAs self-criticism on the Ferrazini killing
