EXPLOSIVES RECOVERED. The camp of the Philippine Army's 46th Infantry Battalion in Calbiga, Samar. Soldiers recovered four improvised explosive devices from the New People’s Army on the outskirts of Calbiga town on Monday (April 6, 2020), stalling attempts by the communist terrorist group to attack government troops. (PNA photo by Sarwell Meniano)
TACLOBAN CITY – The Philippine Army has recovered four improvised explosive devices (IEDs) belonging to the New People’s Army in a remote village in Calbiga town, Samar province, stalling attempts of the communist terrorist group to attack government troops.
Maj. Gen. Pio Diñoso III, commander of the Army’s 8th Infantry Division, said soldiers of the 46th Infantry Battalion seized the IEDs in Hubasan village in Calbiga on Monday after they were tipped off by villagers.
Diñoso said troops went to the area acting on reports from concerned civilians that rebels plotted to ambush soldiers using IEDs that were placed along the only trail linking Hubasan to Binanggaran village, also in Calbiga.
“We condemn, in the strongest terms possible, that despite the existing unilateral ceasefire and global coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic crisis, the planting of IEDs here in Samar, and recent attacks against uniformed personnel in Luzon and tribal leaders in Mindanao,” he said in a statement on Tuesday.
“The communist terrorist group is consistently displaying barbaric acts, violating human rights and disregarding the safety of the civilians who might turn victims just like what they did in Borongan City a few months ago.”
On Dec. 13, 2019, a policeman and two civilians perished when the NPA detonated bombs along a national highway in Borongan City, Eastern Samar. The attack wounded 14 others, including an infant and two children.
On Nov. 11 last year, six soldiers were also killed and 20 others were wounded when the rebels detonated six explosives and fought with government troopers in a remote village, also in Borongan City.
The military has repeatedly condemned the NPA for using landmines in their attacks, which shows disrespect for basic human rights.
The rebels have also disregarded the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law.
The NPA, which has been waging a five-decade armed struggle against the government, is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines. (PNA)
