GOVERNMENT soldiers have foiled the alleged attempt of the communist insurgents to lay landmines at Sitio Nabawang, Busdi in Malaybalay, Bukidnon, on Thursday, July 19.
Troops from the 8th Infantry Battalion (IB) under the 403rd Infantry Brigade clashed with undetermined number of suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) who were laying landmines around 9 a.m.
The military said the troops were responding a report tipped-off by concerned civilians in the area about the presence of armed men whom they saw were laying improvised explosive devices (IEDs) along the road in their community.
The troops engaged the NPA fighters in a five-minute gun battle forcing the enemy to withdraw and flee in different directions.
No casualties were incurred on the government side while the military believes that several Maoist guerillas were wounded during the firefight as evident by the bloodstains seen along their withdrawal routes.
Authorities recovered explosives paraphernalia including a 70-meters electrical wire and empty shells of M16 and Ak47 rifles at the encounter site.
Lieutenant Colonel Ronald Illana, 8IB commanding officer, said the military condemns the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)-NPA for continuously violating the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law or CARHRIHL.
“This is a clear violation on the provisions of the CARHRIHL that prohibits the use of landmines. The use of such explosive device poses great harm to civilians, especially when placed in nearby communities. The CPP-NPA has grown desperate to win a losing battle that they have crossed the line and resorted to using weapons that could inflict damage to civilians,”Ilana said.
Brigadier General Eric Vinoya, 403rd Infantry Brigade commander, lauded the cooperation of the residents in the area.
“Clearly, we can see that the CPP-NPA terrorists are losing the support and sympathy of our people, who are now well-aware of the lies and deception of this terrorist group. We commend the cooperation of the local residents in the area as this is very critical in our fight against a terror group that knows no bounds and clearly disrespects established agreements and rules og war,” Vinoya said.