RECOVERED. Government troops recover two improvised explosive devices in Barangay Sanghay, Mati City, Davao Oriental on Tuesday (Sept. 22, 2020) as well as an ignition switch and a rifle grenade. Authorities say two former supporters of the communist rebel movement helped them recover the bombs. (Photo courtesy of the Davao Oriental PIO)
DAVAO CITY – Government forces recovered two Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) in Mati City, the Davao Oriental provincial government said on Wednesday.
A provincial government statement said military intelligence operatives and personnel of the 2nd Davao Oriental Provincial Mobile Force Company (DOPMFC) recovered the IEDs in Barangay Sanghay, Mati City through the help of two former supporters of the communist New People’s Army (NPA).
Authorities recovered two “mother cuptu” explosive devices, an ignition switch, and a rifle grenade, the provincial government said.
“The frequent use of landmines by the rebel group is a huge violation of the international law of war as it often hits the defenseless civilian communities who are often caught in the crossfire,” it said.
Rebels entrusted the IEDs to the two former NPA supporters in 2016, the provincial government said, adding the pair decided to inform authorities on the location of the bombs following their surrender earlier this month.
Vic, one of the surrenderers, said they could not bear in their conscience "if people get hurt once these powerful explosives were used."
He was quoted in the dialect as saying a “mother cuptu” is a powerful explosive that “can kill at least twelve people within the site of the explosion.”
Governor Nelson Dayanghirang thanked the two surrenderers for helping authorities recover the explosives, saying their decision has helped save lives.
“Thank you for responding to my constant call in public to surrender. This is our province and we should all strive to make it peaceful. At the end of the day, all of us are the ones who will benefit from it,” Dayanghirang said. (PNA)
