The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Tuesday said it has recorded at least 11 new atrocities, including liquidation of five people and burning of business properties, committed by the New People’s Army but will continue to stick to the government’s peace stance.

According to the AFP Civil Relations Service (CRS), the military views these attacks as desperate attempts by some NPA factions to conceal the declining status of the CPP/NPA as well as to pressure government not to pursue its peace agenda.

“It challenges the CPP/NPA leadership to direct its members to stop these attacks if they truly have the best interest of the country in mind.

The AFP, however, insists that doors for dialogues remain open to those who would want peaceful resolution,” said Maj. Gen. Victor Felix, deputy chief of staff for Civil Military Operations a military official.

“We ascertain NPA members that even without military action, the atrocities they are conducting are indirectly hurting the rebels themselves and their families,” Felix said.

“Their attacks did not only harm the targeted business entities, or of the families of the victims, but the chances for economic development and better lives for their children have been also immensely affected,” he said.

“It is our wish for the NPA rebels to heed the government’s call for peace. We believe that no properties should be unnecessarily destroyed, and no one should get hurt regardless of whose groups they belong to, for we are all Filipinos,” said Felix.

AFP records show the latest incident occurred during the last week of July in different parts of the country.

On July 26, NPAs seized a container van delivering eggs owned by Mega Via Corporations in Barangay Samalague, Leon, Iloilo and subsequently blew up the van using improvised explosives. Two days after, Margarito Renario, a barangay kagawad of Barangay. Aguada, Placer, Masbate was shot dead by suspected members of the NPA.

Three dump trucks owned by Goldrich Company were also burned by the suspected NPA members in Barangay Balao, Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro on July 29. On the same day, one backhoe owned by SUNWEST, which was performing preventive maintenance on the circumferential road in Barangay Barihay, San Andres, Catanduanes was also torched.

In Iloilo, a health center in Barangay Bagacay, Igbaras was strafed by NPA members, wounding a civilian identified as Juanita Espinosa Sabijon also on July 26.

On July 31, five container vans of Dole-Stanfilco banana plantation were set ablaze by NPA members at Barangay Camanlangan, New Bataan, Compostela Valley.

Meanwhile, a brand new generator and two air conditioned buses of Victory Liner were likewise burned by 12 NPA members at the liner’s maintenance compound in Barangay Estrada, Capas, Tarlac.

Reports from the 3rd Infantry Division (3rd ID) also recorded four civilians killed by NPA members in separate incidents in Negros Occidental.

The killings of Sergio Villadar, Joel Resaga, and Leonardo Obtina in Escalante City; and Jelly Biahedor in Toboso were admitted by the local Communist rebels.

The AFP said it strongly condemns the attacks, especially the killing of civilians, and will assist law enforcement agencies to catch the perpetrators and make them accountable for these crimes according to our laws.

Military records show that in 2009, 86 civilian lives were killed, and P103 million worth of properties were destroyed.