Three landmines were discovered by elements of 1st Infantry (Always First) Battalion led by 1LT Lamosao during an encounter with at least 30 New People's Army (NPA) members in Barangay Marcelino, General Nakar over the weekend.
The landmines were retrieved after 15 minutes of firefight between the opposing troops. According to several residents, the NPAs suffered a number of casualties but this information is still to be validated. Meanwhile, two from the Army troopers were reported wounded and were taken to
Prior to the encounter, there were reports received by this unit that CTs in the area were set to conduct military offensive actions against government forces and other soft targets particularly private contractors accomplishing priority projects of the government in the area.
According to LTC Mangabay, Commanding Officer, 1IB, he was aware of the information that the landmines laid by the CTs were intended for the trucks and other heavy equipment used in the on-going construction of the road connecting General Nakar,
Col. Rodel Mauro Alarcon, commanding officer of 202nd Brigade, denounced the use of landmines as a violation of the Geneva Convention Law as stated in the Comprehensive Agreement to Respect Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) by the NPA with the Philippine government in 1998.
General Nakar Mayor Leovegildo Ruzol, in an interview after the encounter, commended the move of the 1st Infantry Battalion in pursuit of peace and development in their municipality.
He also acknowledged the presence of Army troops especially their efforts in helping the municipality to achieve and sustain peace and order.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=662336
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