LANDMINE ATTACK SLAMMED: Tubungan cops escape ‘NPA landmine blast’

From Panay News (Dec 18, 2020): LANDMINE ATTACK SLAMMED: Tubungan cops escape ‘NPA landmine blast’ (By Ruby Silubrico)

“Police stations, especially in high-risk areas, are instructed to be alert and wary of people around them,” says Iloilo top cop Colonel Gilbert Gorero. IAN PAUL CORDERO/PN

ILOILO City – The police chief of Tubungan, Iloilo and at least four of his men escaped unhurt when a landmine believed planted by New People’s Army rebels exploded yesterday afternoon.

Police Lieutenant Jose Romel Samson and his men were on board a Hilux patrol car in the town’s Barangay Balicua when the landmine detonated around 2:45 p.m.

All police personnel on board were safe and returned to their station, Police Colonel Gilbert Gorero, provincial police chief, told Panay News.

The patrol car, however, incurred broken windows on the driver side and holes and scratches on the left side.

According to Gorero, the cops were on their way back to their headquarters after patrol operations.
He said policemen were alerted and reminded to be more vigilant.

“Police stations, especially in high-risk areas, are instructed to be alert and wary of people around them. Your headquarters must not be left unmanned,” Gorero stressed.

The Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) condemned the attack.

“These violent acts show their (NPA) real character, which intends to destroy peace and order, create havoc and spread terror in the town of Tubungan,” the PRO-6 said in a statement.

For his part, Captain Cenon Pancito III, Public Affairs Office chief of the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division, said they are still waiting for more details about the incident.

He reiterated that the use of anti-personnel landmine is a clear violation of Republic Act 9851 (Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity).

Tubungan, according to Pancito, is part of the area of operation of the NPA’s Southern Front, Kilusang Rehiyon Panay. It is a strategic place for the NPA rebels to hide because of its mountainous terrain.

The town had been identified as “vulnerable” to the NPA, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

Authorities are on high alert ahead of the 52nd founding anniversary of the CPP on Dec. 26.

Security forces have increased vigilance for possible hostilities of the CPP-NPA.

These communist insurgents may increase attacks, especially against military and police targets, ahead of the anniversary.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier said there will be no ceasefire between the government and communist rebels until the end of his term.

Duterte said the ceasefire with the rebels died along with the peace talks.

He also reiterated that he considers the members of the Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives, as well as other progressive groups, as communists.

The CPP was formed by Prof. Jose Maria Sison on Dec. 26, 1968. It was designated as a terrorist group by current Philippine president and Sison’s former student, Rodrigo Duterte in December 2017.

The CPP has been fighting a guerrilla war against the State since its establishment. Although its ranks initially numbered around 500, the party grew quickly, supposedly due to the imposition of martial law by then president and dictator Ferdinand Marcos during his 21-year rule.

By the end of Marcos’ dictatorship, the number of combatants had expanded to include more than 10,000 fighters.

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