NPA denies using landmine in attack

KIDAPAWAN CITY -- The New People's Army (NPA) in Southern Mindanao denied Monday reports saying they used a landmine during an attack on government troops in Makilala, North Cotabato on Friday.

Rigoberto Sanchez, spokesperson for the Merardo Arce Command of the NPA, said they used a command-detonated explosive against a military vehicle where elements of the 57th Infantry Battalion were on board.

With that, Sanchez said they did not violate any human rights law and international instruments.

The use of landmines is strictly prohibited under the Anti-Personnel Mine Convention, an international instrument adopted in 1997.

"The NPA violates no laws and international instruments as it continues to use command-detonated explosives in its guerilla warfare. It employs no stealth as it launches tactical offensive against legitimate targets," Sanchez said in a statement relayed to news organizations here.

Earlier, the 57th IB accused the rebels of violating the International Humanitarian Law and the Anti-Personnel Mine Convention when they used a landmine to attack the soldiers who were on their way to a military detachment at Sitio Alang-Alang, Barangay Kisante, around 11:30 p.m. of Friday.

The explosion wounded five elements of the Charlie Company of the 57th IB, according to the battalion's spokesman, Lieutenant Nasrullah Sema.