Kalinaw News: NPA terrorists in Northern Samar use Anti-Personnel Mines; Injures Seven Army Personnel

From Kalinaw News (Jul 5, 2022): NPA terrorists in Northern Samar use Anti-Personnel Mines; Injures Seven Army Personnel

NPA terrorists in Northern Samar use Anti-Personnel Mines; Injures Seven Army Personnel

Las Navas, Northern Samar, 05 July 2022 – Communist NPA Terrorists (CNTs) used anti-personnel mines against CSP Teams of the 20th Infantry (We Lead) Battalion while conducting combat patrol at 06:15 today, July 05, 2022 in the vicinity of Brgy. Magsaysay, Mapanas, Northern Samar.

The attack of the members of the CPP-NPA using anti-personnel mines has injured seven (7) Army Personnel whereas two (2) personnel is in a critical condition. “The seven wounded in action were still on the process of casualty evacuation,” said Second Lieutenant Bayron, 20IB Acting Spokesperson.

“Barangay Magsaysay is a recipient among four barangays in Mapanas, Northern Samar which was supposed to receive a 63-million worth of PAMANA Infrastructure Program CY 2018 for the Construction of Siljagon-Naparasan-Quezon-Magsaysay Farm-to-Market Road
for the calendar year 2018. According to the regional official of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), the presence of New People’s Army (NPA) in Northern Samar has discouraged contractors from implementing multi-million infrastructure projects meant for impoverished and conflict-stricken communities. It can also be recalled that the OPAPP Program Manager for Visayas, Imelda Bonifacio has said on an interview in 2018 that construction firms have abandoned at least three projects for fear of NPA’s extortion activities and being caught in the crossfire between government troops and armed rebels. This is one of the reasons why the AFP and PNP tied up to redeploy CSP Teams in Brgy. Magsaysay and other conflict-affected barangays to ensure that the project implementation of PAMANA Projects and other government projects will push through and not be put hampered by the NPA’s extortion and intimidation. The “We Lead Troopers” cannot allow the people of Mapanas to be deprived of government services because of NPA’s deceptive propaganda and lies,” Bayron added.

The CPP-NPA-NDF once again made a serious violation of International Humanitarian Law in Northern Samar. It can be recalled that on April 03, 2022, the CNTs used anti-personnel mines against CSP Teams of the 20th Infantry (We Lead) Battalion while moving back to Barangay Osang, Catubig, Northern Samar at vicinity Brgy. San Miguel, Las Navas, Northern Samar, which resulted to the death of two (2) PNP Personnel and injuries of four (4) others.

Lieutenant Colonel Joemar Buban, Commanding Officer of 20IB stated that the said terroristic attack of the CNTs is a clear violation of the Ottawa Convention (Mine Ban Treaty) that prohibits the use, stockpiling, production, and transfer of anti-personnel landmines (APLs). “The 20IB has been doing its best to help the conflict-affected barangays through our Community Support Program Teams to achieve long-lasting peace and sustainable development in Northern Samar. We are calling the Commission of Human Rights to investigate and make a statement on these continuous inexcusable violations of Ottawa Convention, International Humanitaritian Law and RA9851 by communist NPA terrorists in Northern Samar. Moreover, the leadership of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), as the self-proclaimed organizational representative of the NPA, should be held liable for not taking any efforts to stop the NPA, its armed wing, from its continuing production stockpile, transport, and use of crudely manufactured anti-personnel mines (APM) that also pose danger to lives of the people in the communities where they lay the mines,” Lieutenant Colonel Buban added.

The leadership of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), as the self-proclaimed organizational representative of the NPA, should be held liable for not taking any efforts to stop the NPA, its armed wing, from its continuing production stockpile, transport, and use of crudely manufactured anti-personnel mines (APM) that also pose danger to lives of the people in the communities where they lay the mines. Significantly, the APM that was detonated this morning was laid by the NPA in a trail commonly used by civilians in Brgy Magsaysay, Mapanas, Northern Samar.

Maj Gen Edgardo De Leon

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