Army: Communist rebels still using landmines

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines -  Communist guerillas continue to use landmines, the Philippine Army said in an encounter with the Communist Party of the Philippines- New People's Army in San Mariano, Isabela early dawn on Friday.

Army Col. Loreto Magundayao of the 5th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office said four soldiers of the Philippine Army’s 86th Infantry Batallion were hurt when a landmine planted by rebels along Brgy Ibujan, San Mariano, went off. Magundayao deplored the rebels’ disregard of Protocol II in the 1980 Geneva Convention banning the use of landmines

Magundayao said government troopers were conducting security operations ahead of the forthcoming May elections when they chanced upon a communist in the area who planted a landmine along the road. A 30-minute gunfight ensued.

What hurt the soldiers, Magundayao said, was the landmine whose shrapnel hit the soldiers on their heads, hands and bodies.

Soldiers were able to turn the situation in their favor and were able to seize one civilian backpack, one M16 rifle magazine and used landmine detonating cords.

Magundayao added that soldiers were tipped by villagers of the NPA presence in the village where they allegedly extort money and food, prompting them to immediately launch an operation.

The use of the landmines, Magundayao said, clearly and deliberately violated the International Law concerning the protocol on prohibitions or restrictions on the use of mines, booby traps and other devices (Protocol II) which was signed in Geneva Convention on Oct. 10, 1980.

Communist guerillas, on the other hand, deny that they are using landmines, calling them “command-detonated devices” which only goes off when switched to prevent accidental discharges.