CHR denounces use of landmine by NPA in Davao del Sur attack

By: Frances Mangosing - 11 years ago

Commission on Human Rights Chairwoman Loretta Ann Rosales. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Human Rights on Tuesday condemned the roadside blast allegedly perpetrated by the New People’s Army in Davao del Sur.

“The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) staunchly denounces the use of landmines in Davao del Sur, allegedly by the New People’s Army (NPA),” CHR Chairperson Loretta Ann Rosales said in a statement.

The use of landmines left 16 soldiers and civilians wounded in Bansalan. On Sunday evening, a convoy of ambulances were supposed to pick up 11 wounded soldiers that were also hit by a bomb earlier that day. The convoy was hit by the landmine, injuring five civilians.

One of the ambulances that were hit by the blast belonged to the Philippine Red Cross.

“The incident is a violation of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL), signed by the government and the communist insurgents in 1998 that bans the use of landmines,” Rosales said.

“These anti-vehicle and anti-personnel mines do not differentiate between civilians and soldiers, and may claim lives of farmers, their wives and their innocent children. Landmine use is an infringement against the right to life as landmine devices remain lethal for decades once laid,” she added.

Rosales said she already instructed their regional office in Davao to “immediately” conduct an investigation “to ascertain the circumstances of the alleged attacks.”

She also called on the NPA “to stand for the agreements” set forth in the landmine accord.

Although Davao del Sur was previously declared insurgency free, military spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Ramon Zagala said that the attack on the soldiers was part of the “realities of operations.”

But the attack on the ambulances was condemnable, Zagala said, adding that it was a violation and “a direct assault to civilians.”

“The point is that in any conflict area, if Red Cross or Red Crescent sign is an international sign is there, it shouldn’t be attacked. It’s there for humanitarian reasons,” Zagala said.

He said he also saw no lapses of the military because the return of the NPA in the area was reported to them.