Official Philippine Army Press Release
The Philippine Army vehemently condemns the New People's Army for using another killer landmine, which caused the death of a chief of Police in Cagayan, his wife, and four others in Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya on January 23 (Sunday).
A few days ago, a member of the Army's 69th Infantry Battalion was killed, while nine others were wounded in an encounter with the New People's Army rebels in Sitio Guinobatan, Brgy Pacquibato Proper, Pacquibato District, Davao City. Reports reaching the Army headquarters from field unit disclosed that the NPAs detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) which led to the death of a militiaman.
Fortunately, the Army troops were able to prevent another landmine attack in Dinaitan and Purog of Gandara, Samar on January 15 due to enhanced cooperation established between the Army and the civilian populace, wherein the information given by the civilians in the barangay to the elements of the 52nd Infantry Battalion led to the recovery of various firearm and ammunition including an M16 rifle and rifle grenades, and preventing another attack against the people of Samar.
The NPAs are responsible for deadly attacks committed not just against security forces but innocent civilians as well. It can be recalled that a day before the ceasefire between the government forces and the NPAs took effect last December 2010, elements of the 63rd Infantry Battalion were ambushed by some 40 NPA rebels. Said rebels detonated landmines which resulted to the killings of 10 soldiers and the wounding of two others, including a nine-year-old boy.
The use of landmines has long been banned by the Convention on the Prohibition, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personal Mines and on their Destruction (Ottawa Treaty) realizing its devastating effects on human lives. The NPA does not only violate international laws, they destroy lives as well.
This incident proves that the CPP-NPA has no intentions to follow the agreements stipulated on CARHRIHL, signed between GRP and the CPP-NPA-NDF, where it was clearly stipulated that both parties must avoid the use of landmines in observance of human rights. Clearly, respect for human rights is not a part of the values of the rebels.
Our sympathies go out to the members of the Philippine National Police for their loss. We assure the public that we will work with other law enforcement agencies to make the perpetrators of this deadly attack account for their crimes. The organization is likewise confident that with Oplan Bayanihan, more and more NPA members will denounce their armed struggle and become allies of the government in the continued fight for peace.
Philippine Army
