MEDAL FOR THE WOUNDED. Brig. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade, pins a medal on one of the seven soldiers wounded in a clash between the 62nd Infantry Battalion troopers and the New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental on Tuesday (April 9, 2019). Troops encountered about 20 NPA fighters during a combat operation at Sitio Asaran in Barangay Buenavista. (Photo courtesy of 303rd Infantry Brigade, Philippine Army)
Seven soldiers were slightly wounded by Anti-Personnel (AP) mines during a clash with communist rebels which led to the dismantling of a New People’s Army (NPA) hideout in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental on Tuesday.
A report of the Philippine Army’s 62nd Infantry Battalion (62IB) said the government troops encountered about 20 NPA fighters during a combat operation at around 10:30 a.m. at Sitio Asaran in Barangay Buenavista.
During the hour-long firefight, the rebels detonated AP mines which injured seven soldiers, who are now in stable condition.
The 62IB added that based on reports, the bodies of two rebel casualties were dragged away by their comrades.
Seven soldiers were slightly wounded by Anti-Personnel (AP) mines during a clash with communist rebels which led to the dismantling of a New People’s Army (NPA) hideout in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental on Tuesday.
A report of the Philippine Army’s 62nd Infantry Battalion (62IB) said the government troops encountered about 20 NPA fighters during a combat operation at around 10:30 a.m. at Sitio Asaran in Barangay Buenavista.
During the hour-long firefight, the rebels detonated AP mines which injured seven soldiers, who are now in stable condition.
The 62IB added that based on reports, the bodies of two rebel casualties were dragged away by their comrades.
Lt. Col. Egberto Dacoscos, commanding officer of 62IB, said in a statement the failure of the NPA’s tactical operation against the government troops shows the communist rebels are threatened and demoralized by the strengthened presence of the security forces.
Dacoscos added that the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) violated the Human Rights Law and the International Humanitarian Law when they used AP mines during the encounter.
It is a clear violation of the Ottawa Treaty, a convention on the prohibition of the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines, also called the “Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention” that took effect last March 1, 1999, he pointed out.
“We strongly adhere to the rule of law, especially in times of war and battle. We are saddened and dismayed by the desperate moves committed by this terrorist group. However, this is a failure on their part as they just showed their inhumane acts. They are truly anti-peace and anti-development”, Dacoscos said.
While being treated in a hospital on Tuesday, the seven soldiers were awarded the Wounded Personnel Medal by Brig. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade.
The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1066898
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