From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 20, 2020): NPA's continued use of landmines in Agusan Norte hit (By Alexander Lopez)
BOMB-MAKING COMPONENTS. The Philippine Army based in Agusan del Norte on Tuesday (Oct. 19, 2020) scored the communist New People’s Army for its continued use of banned landmines in the province. The Army's 23rd Infantry Battalion says it recovered some 20 rolls of blasting cap and other bomb-making components in an abandoned rebel lair in Barangay Ibuan, Las Nieves town, on October 17, 2020. (Photo courtesy of 23IB)
A top Army official in Agusan del Norte said the recent discovery of bomb-making materials in an abandoned lair of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) proves that rebels continue to use explosives banned under international laws.
Lt. Col. Julius Cesar C. Paulo, commander of the Army's 23rd Infantry Battalion, said Tuesday the banned explosives endanger civilians' lives, especially farmers and the indigenous peoples (IPs) in the remote areas in Agusan del Norte.
“I called on the residents, especially in the remote areas, to be always aware of the dangers posed by these CNTs (Communist NPA Terrorists) in our lives. For the past years, they conceal landmines in places that are frequented by civilians. These explosives kill not only the government forces but also the ordinary people in the area,” Paulo said.
Late last week, Paulo said government troops recovered 20 rolls of blasting cap and other bomb-making components in an abandoned NPA hideout in Sitio Fatima, Barangay Ibuan, Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte.
“We conducted an operation when the farmers and the IP residents in Sitio Fatima reported of a hideout recently abandoned by the CNTs. The civilians said they also noticed some wires and were worried about the presence of explosives in the area,” he said.
In July this year, he said the 23IB disposed of eight anti-personnel mines (APMs) and the 23 packs of ammonium nitrate that were previously recovered from NPA encampments in the province.
“We all know that the use of IEDs (improvised explosive devices) violates provisions of international agreements, including the Ottawa Treaty, Geneva Convention, and the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL). The CNTs continue to use these banned explosives here in Agusan del Norte,” Paulo said.
He also lauded the help of communities and asked them to be always on guard on the NPA's presence and their activities of planting and concealing explosives in the area.
“These CNT members are killers as they always have that intention to kill, not only the government forces but also the innocent civilians including the IPs,” Paulo said.
The NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1119146
Lt. Col. Julius Cesar C. Paulo, commander of the Army's 23rd Infantry Battalion, said Tuesday the banned explosives endanger civilians' lives, especially farmers and the indigenous peoples (IPs) in the remote areas in Agusan del Norte.
“I called on the residents, especially in the remote areas, to be always aware of the dangers posed by these CNTs (Communist NPA Terrorists) in our lives. For the past years, they conceal landmines in places that are frequented by civilians. These explosives kill not only the government forces but also the ordinary people in the area,” Paulo said.
Late last week, Paulo said government troops recovered 20 rolls of blasting cap and other bomb-making components in an abandoned NPA hideout in Sitio Fatima, Barangay Ibuan, Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte.
“We conducted an operation when the farmers and the IP residents in Sitio Fatima reported of a hideout recently abandoned by the CNTs. The civilians said they also noticed some wires and were worried about the presence of explosives in the area,” he said.
In July this year, he said the 23IB disposed of eight anti-personnel mines (APMs) and the 23 packs of ammonium nitrate that were previously recovered from NPA encampments in the province.
“We all know that the use of IEDs (improvised explosive devices) violates provisions of international agreements, including the Ottawa Treaty, Geneva Convention, and the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL). The CNTs continue to use these banned explosives here in Agusan del Norte,” Paulo said.
He also lauded the help of communities and asked them to be always on guard on the NPA's presence and their activities of planting and concealing explosives in the area.
“These CNT members are killers as they always have that intention to kill, not only the government forces but also the innocent civilians including the IPs,” Paulo said.
The NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1119146
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