DUMAGUETE CITY – The 94th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army based in Negros Oriental has condemned the alleged violation committed by the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHIHL) in using anti-personnel mines in an encounter with government troops over the weekend.
On Saturday night in Barangay Bantolinao in Manjuyod town, two anti-personnel mines exploded during a clash with the rebels, said Lt. Col. Randy Pagunuran, 94th IB commander, in an interview on Monday.
The armed clash resulted in the death of Cpl. Leoter A. Cagape and the wounding of two other soldiers, Private First Class Emmanuel E. Paja and Private Denyl P. Reyes.
After the encounter, the soldiers also recovered an unidentified body believed to be that of an NPA member.
Pagunuran explained that “bawal na ngayon sa CARHIHL na gumamit ng mga landmines sa anumang giyera or enkwentro (it is now prohibited to use land mines in any kind of armed encounter)”.
“The right not to be subjected to indiscriminate bombings, shelling, strafing, and the use of landmines" is stated in Article 2, Section 15 of the said agreement between the government and the NPA's political wing, the National Democratic Front.
Pagunuran said his troops have overrun an NPA encampment in Bantolinao, shortly after the weekend clash.
“It took us three days to actually take over the abandoned camp because of the improvised land mines that were planted at its vicinity,” Pagunuran said in the Filipino dialect.
Soldiers have recovered another anti-personnel mine from the vicinity of the clash, while seven more were retrieved in the succeeding days at the encampment.
Personal belongings and subversive documents were also recovered.
The clash on Saturday was a result of an intelligence report that the NPA was allegedly planning an attack especially as the Philippine National Police (PNP) was conducting a medical-dental outreach mission in Manjuyod on the same day.
At around 11:35 p.m. that day, government troops led by 1Lt. Abdulnasser O. Israel and personnel from the 704th Regional Mobile Force Battalion encountered more or less 20 armed men believed to be NPA members while on combat operations at Sitio Kambugtong in Barangay Bantolinao.
The firefight lasted for about one hour and 20 minutes.
Aside from the landmines, government troops also recovered a rifle grenade, one hand grenade, assorted ammunition, two cellular phones, assorted medical kit, 24 pieces of batteries with wires, one AM/FM radio, a sack of rice, subversive documents and other personal effects.
Meanwhile, Lt. Col. Pagunuran said clearing operations continue in Bantolinao, Manjuyod and in nearby areas.
Reports that have yet to be confirmed say that hundreds of residents have fled their homes due to the weekend clash, but the Army commander allayed the people’s fears, saying there is no cause for alarm because the military and police are there to protect the civilians while going after the insurgents.
The NPA is considered a terrorist organization by several countries including the Philippines, Unites States and the European Union. (PNA)
