Describing it as an “outrage”, the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) on Monday strongly condemned the detonation of land mine by the New People’s Army (NPA) Sunday morning that killed 21-year-old Far Eastern University (FEU) football varsity player and his uncle in their hometown in Masbate City, Masbate.

In the weekly virtual press conference of the NTF-ELCAC, Undersecretary Lorraine Badoy, spokesperson for Social Media Affairs and Sectoral Concerns, said the NTF-ELCAC “joins the Filipino people in our collective rage against the murder of Kieth Absalon and Nolven Absalon and frustrated murder of the minor that was with them by the Communist Party of the Philippines’ New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) in a most blatant display of disrespect for International Humanitarian Laws (IHL).”

Victims Kieth and Nolven, 40, were riding their bicycles in Purok 4, Barangay Anas when an anti-personnel land mine was detonated, instantly killing them. A 16-year-old son of the athlete’s uncle, Chrisbin Daniel, was also badly wounded and was rushed to Masbate Provincial Hospital.

“This is what this terrorist organization, the CPP NPA NDF, has made of our beloved Philippines: a valley of tears for mothers who have lost their children at such tender ages with so much of their promise yet unfulfilled,” Badoy pointed out.

Initial police reports revealed that the victims were biking on their way to Barangay B, Titong in the town proper together with their relatives when the improvised explosive device (IED) was detonated by NPA rebels in the area.

“Kieth Absalon was a gifted athlete who had such a bright future ahead of him. And yet he is no more. The precious gift of life stolen from him by these violent extremists headed by the monster in Utrecht, powerfully enabled by his serfs in Congress, the Kamatayan Bloc, who romantically call the terrorism, the pain and suffering they wreak on the Filipino people the “National Democratic Revolution”, Badoy added.

Absalon was also a former juniors’ Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the UAAP league and last suited up for the FEU senior’s team and the Malaya Football Club.

Badoy said the NTF-ELCAC will call the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to “to join hands with us in the expression of this outrage and the ending of this tragic chapter in our country’s history by ending what must be ended—the life of this terrorist organization, CPP NPA NDF that has brought nothing but pain and suffering to our people.”

The NTF-ELCAC spokesperson also stated that “we are challenging the self-professed human rights defenders in our midst—Karapatan, NUPL, NUJP, NUSP, CEGP, Kabataan, Bayan Muna, ACT, Gabriela, Ibon, Save Our Schools Network—more precisely Carlos Zarate, Eufemia Cullamat, Arlene Brosas, France Castro, Ferdinand Gaite, Sarah Elago—people who take great pride in imagining themselves as having been duly elected by the Filipino people—to condemn this blatant violation of human rights and the International Humanitarian Laws that ended the young life of Kieth Absalon and his uncle”.

“Will these high ranking party members of the CPP NPA NDF and their numerous fronts finally redeem themselves by doing what every human being ought to be doing—stand with us in our Grief and Rage against this monster that has devoured our children and its latest victim, FEU Tamaraw Kieth Absalon—or will they, once again meet our challenge with a deafening silence or an endless stream of obfuscation that can only mean one thing—that this reign of terror will continue and that there will be more Filipina mothers who will be cradling the dead bodies of their children?” Badoy added.

Meanwhile, the Malaya Football Club has expressed their grief by posting their statement in their Twitter account.

“Our hearts are broken as we bid farewell to a brilliant player of #MalayaFC and FEU men’s football team. A born leader, follower of the highest order, a kind, gentle, and respectful soul. Thank you for everything, #KiethAbsalon. Rest easy in that big football pitch in the sky.” NTF