Army condemns continued use of landmines by NPA

From  the Manila Channel (Jun 26): Army condemns continued use of landmines by NPA

The Army’s 8th Infantry Division based in Catbalogan City condemned anew the continued use of landmines by the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) armed wing – the New People’s Army (NPA).

The statement of condemnation came after the NPA staged an ambush to the government soldiers before dawn Tuesday (June 25) killing a Private First Class and wounding six other soldiers.

Captain Amado Gutierrez, spokesperson of the 8ID said the troops belong to the 20th Infantry battalion was en route to Barangay Lungib, Victoria Northern Samar to provide additional manpower to peace and development programs when the rebels opened fires.

The army captain said the rebels used a “detonated roadside landmines” followed by a voluminous fires. The military cannot determine if there was casualty in the enemy side during the 30-minute firefights.

The army troops later recovered an improvised explosive device (IED) and several empty shells of guns used in the clash scene.

In 2013 alone, last Tuesday’s attack was the third time the NPA used a landmine in attacking government soldiers in Eastern Visayas.

Previously, several soldiers, policemen and civilians were killed by the NPAs using landmines, the military said.

“It is unfortunate to note that while our troops are implementing peace and development initiatives to help the people in the interior villages, the NPAs continue perpetrating terroristic activities detrimental to our people,” Gutierrez said.

Captain Gutierrez called on to public and the members of the civil society to join this command in condemning the continued use of landmines by the NPA-CPP-NDF.

He said: “We call on all peace-loving people to add their voices to condemn this barbaric act of the NPAs. We also call among the members of the NPAs to return to the mainstream and avail the government offered programs and contribute to nation building.”

In March 2012, the 8ID discovered the biggest bomb factory of the NPA in the municipality of Paranas town. The troops seized forty-four (44) improvised landmines, blasting caps, detonators, wires and other production paraphernalia.

Meanwhile, Major General Gerardo T. Layug, commander of the 8ID urged the NPA to follow the Comprehensive Agreement on the Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) as agreed between the government and the NPA-CPP-NDF.

The general said the use of landmines is a violation of the Republic Act 9851 (Crime against International Law) and paragraph 15, article II of CARHRIHL. CARHRIHL states that parties should affirm and apply the principles of international humanitarian law in order to protect the civilian population and individual civilians.

http://www.manilachannel.com/2013/06/26/army-condemns-continued-use-of-landmines-by-npa/