CATARMAN, Northern Samar — Seven soldiers were wounded following an ambush by suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Mapanas town, Northern Samar, on Tuesday.
Based on the investigation, the soldiers – all members of the Alpha Company 20th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army – were on their way to their immersion camp in Barangay Magsaysay at 6:15 a.m. when they stepped on landmines set up by communist rebels.
Authorities declined to identify the wounded soldiers as their families had yet to be informed.
The seven soldiers were airlifted and brought to a health facility for treatment while government forces conducted a hot pursuit operation to arrest the rebels, said Col. Perfecto Peñaredondo, commander of the 803rd Brigade of the Philippine Army based in Catarman.
Peñaredondo, in a press conference, said the landmines were reportedly planted by the Front Committee 15 of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) under Kumander “Tara.”
Based on the information they gathered, Peñaredondo said the rebels have been extorting money ranging from P2,500 to P3,000 from barangay officials in Mapanas town on a monthly basis and set a quota of P20 and 1 cup of rice from the residents.
Mapanas is one of the coastal towns in the second district of Northern Samar. Rebels thrived in most of the town’s barangays.
The military said the incident is a violation of international convention.
“Of the seven dalawa ang critical … hopefully malagpasan nila ‘yung kanilang ordeal na, nagko-community service na nga, pinasabugan pa ng anti-personnel mine,” Maj. Gen Edgardo de Leon, commander of the 8th Infantry Battalion, told reporters.
(Of the seven soldiers, two were in critical condition. Hopefully, they overcome this ordeal. They were doing community service and yet they were attacked with an anti-personnel mine.)
De Leon also said the military is eyeing to file appropriate cases against the National Democratic Front (NDF) leadership.
De Leon also said the use of anti-personnel mine is a violation of the International Humanitarian Law. Thus, they are eyeing to file appropriate cases against the National Democratic Front (NDF) leadership.
“So ito ‘yung another (this is another) violation ng (of) CPP-NPA sa paggamit ng (for using the) banned anti-personnel mine,” he said.
“We will file (an) appropriate case against the NDF leadership aside from the NPA who directly perpetrated this,” he also added.
In a statement emailed to Inquirer.net, CPP spokesperson Marco Valbuena said the explosive used by the NPA was detonated and only targeted soldiers.
“Clearly, the NPA detonated the explosive with a clear military target, and did not cause injuries to civilians,” Valbuena said.
“As we have previously clarified, the command-detonated explosives used by the NPA are not covered by the Ottawa Treaty banning anti-personnel landmines which are ‘designed to be exploded by the presence, proximity or contact of a person and that will incapacitate, injure or kill one or more persons,’” Valbuena also explained.
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