Army hits NPA for using banned mines in N. Samar

From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 27, 2023): Army hits NPA for using banned mines in N. Samar (By Sarwell Meniano)

REBEL-INFESTED. A portion of Osmeña village in Las Navas town, Northern Samar province where rebels detonated an antipersonnel mine on April 24, 2023. The Philippine Army has condemned the recent use of banned explosives by the New People’s Army (NPA) that injured three soldiers. (Photo courtesy of Brgy. Osmeña, Las Navas, Northern Samar)

TACLOBAN CITY – The Philippine Army condemned Thursday the recent use of antipersonnel mines by the New People’s Army (NPA) that injured three soldiers in an upland village in Las Navas town, Northern Samar province.

Col. Efren Morados, commander of the Army’s 803rd Infantry Brigade said in a statement, the use of banned explosives to hurt government forces is unacceptable.

“The desperate move of the NPA is one of their tactics to reproject their deteriorating image and to disrupt the government programs in the community,” Morados said.

On April 24, three soldiers engaged in a mobile community support sustainment program (MCSSP) were wounded when rebels detonated an anti-personnel mine in the town’s upland Osmeña village.

The military deploys MCSSP teams in some areas to prevent NPA recovery efforts in previously influenced communities.

"This incident does not discourage our troops in performing their task, instead, it inspires us more to help the communities in achieving peace and development in collaboration with the barangay task force to end the local communist armed conflict to eradicate this communist terrorist group,” Morados added.

Northern Samar is the most affected province in Eastern Visayas by insurgency with the operation of two active NPA guerilla fronts.

Morados said although Front Committees 1 and 15 are still active, they are not in control of any village in Northern Samar.

In 2020, there were 232 NPA-influenced villages out of 569 villages in Northern Samar.

The two remaining fronts are hiding in the upland villages of Catubig, Las Navas, Silvino Lobos, Palapag, Mapanas and Gamay towns.

Meanwhile, the province has mapped out a transformation program for former rebels and their communities.

The provincial government said in a statement on Thursday that the program will focus on confidence-building and healing and reconciliation in conflict-affected communities.

Among the programs, activities and projects included in its transformation program are the construction of access roads, potable water supply systems and free housing units for former rebels and their families.

Several upland communities in the province are considered the hotbed of the communist terrorist group due to thick forests and poor road networks.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1200281