De jure rebels, de facto terrorists

A total of 1,343 Filipinos — including women and infants — were killed by the New People's Army (NPA) with the bidding of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) in over just 10 years from 2011. Of the number, 721 are non-combatant civilians including Machorao Malysha, a 4-month-old baby girl from Talakag town in Bukidnon. Of the 81 persons killed by landmines laid by the NPA, 10 are hapless civilians including Keith Absalon of Masbate City, who was a rising football star from Far Eastern University, and his cousin Nolven. Excluded from this number were 260 NPA commanders and followers who were killed on mere suspicion that they are government agents. And Jose Ma. Sison was indicted as the mastermind of their merciless execution.