NPA landmine factory discovered

MANILA, Philippines - Soldiers have discovered a landmine factory owned by the New People’s Army in Loreto town in Agusan del Sur.

Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) spokesman Capt. Alberto Caber said at least 163 pieces of landmines were recovered from the factory in Sitio Mampait in Barangay Kauswagan last Wednesday.

Caber said security forces located the landmine factory based on information relayed by residents near the area.

“The use of landmines is a violation of the provisions of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian law,” he said.

Communist rebels have claimed that their explosives are legitimate weapons of war and are allowed by existing international treaties. They said their landmines are command-detonated explosives and not pressure-triggered to ensure the safety of civilians.

Eastmincom chief Lt. Gen. Ricardo Cruz III said the factory is the biggest landmine facility discovered so far.

“The National Democratic Front wants to talk peace with the government. But they still continue to manufacture weapons of mass destruction. It is clear that the NDF are not really sincere about peace after all,” he said.

Caber said a total of 453 landmines had exploded in Eastern Mindanao since 2010, leaving 128 persons dead and 325 others wounded, apart from causing damage to several properties.