Army airs concern over safety of civilians with landmine use

From the Philippine Information Agency (Apr 10): Army airs concern over safety of civilians with landmine use

The military expressed concern over the continued use of landmines by the communist rebels in Compostela Valley on the safety of residents.

Colonel Angelito de Leon, commanding officer of the 1001st Infantry Brigade based in Maco, Compostela Valley said that on the first week of April, 2013 alone, nine improvised landmines had been recovered by the soldiers in various clearing operations, four of which in Barangay Libudon, Mabini, Compostela Valley and five others from various areas of operation in the province.

He said the recovery of four improvised landmines on April 5 was preceded by the explosions of three improvised explosive devices that left two soldiers killed and two others wounded.

De Leon said the explosion preceded an encounter between the soldiers and the rebels.

He said several IEDS and assorted ammunitions were also recovered in a rebel encampment in Sitio Darot, Barangay Libudon in Mabini.

 “As of this report, the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams we deployed in the area have already cleared the barangay road where the rebels concealed the landmines. Civilians in the area are now safe to pass the road,” De Leon said.

He said the use of landmines by the rebels shows that they are unmindful of the safety of civilians, a deliberate disregard for human rights and the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) agreed by the National Democratic Front and the government.

Captain Jeffrey Balingao, civil-military operations officer of the 100st IB disclosed other activities against the rebels from April 5 to April 7 in the province.

Last April 5 at 6 a.m., members of the 25 Infantry Battalion discovered an abandoned camp at Sitio Puting Bato, Barangay Panansalan, Compostela town while conducting peace and security operations.

Balingao said the rebels scampered away leaving behind batteries, tents, ammo pouches, cooking wares, personal belongings and documents.

He also said that at 7:30 a.m., April 5, the soldiers under the 71st IB recovered about a hundred-meter-detonating cord with complete detonating assembly in Barangay Panibasan, Maco.

Balingao said that another abandoned camp was discovered by the members of the 25th IB in Sitio Maroot, Barangay Banglasan, Montevista where assorted medical items, documents and electrical wire were recovered.

Records from the 10th Civil-Military Operations Battalion showed that this year alone, the improvised landmine explosions claimed four lives and wounded 34 others in the region, including the incident which resulted to the killing of one soldier and wounding ten others while conducting relief and rehabilitation activities for the victims of Typhoon Pablo in Davao Oriental.

http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=2381365561947