Troops cleared from lapses in Davao del Sur landmine attack

MANILA, Philippines - The military  on Tuesday said soldiers did not commit lapses during Sunday’s landmine incident in Davao del Sur, which left 16 persons, including five civilians, wounded.

Eleven soldiers were hurt in an encounter with communist rebels in Barangay Managa in Bansalan town at around 11 a.m.

Five civilians were injured after a convoy of ambulances sent to assist the wounded soldiers hit a landmine at about 7:30 p.m.

Despite the explosion, military officials said that clearing operations were held before the convoy passed by the area to ensure the health workers’ safety.

Armed Forces public affairs chief Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala, nevertheless, insisted that no military lapses were committed and passed the blame on the rebels’ treachery.

“We believe there were no lapses on the part of operating troops,” Zagala said.

“Those are the realities of operations against insurgency. The attack on the ambulances is really a violation. They shouldn’t have done that because they signed the CAHRIHL (Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International. Humanitarian Law),” he added.

Zagala noted that ambulance units carrying health workers should not be attacked.

“That (landmine incident) is a direct assault on civilians. We can see there their (rebels) terroristic nature,” he said.

Initial military reports state that the landmine was planted by the New People’s Army Guerilla Front 51, Southern Mindanao Regional Committee (SMRC) under a certain Menandro Villanueva.

“We will file a case against Villanueva and his cohorts in the local and national courts for frustrated murder and for violating the provisions of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law,” said Col. Marcos Norman Flores Jr., chief of the 1002nd Infantry Brigade.

“Villlanueva and his cronies will also face charges under the Republic Act 9851 or the Philippine Act on Crimes against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide and other crimes against humanity,” he added.

There are about 200 communist insurgents in Davao region based on latest military estimates. The strength of NPA fighters nationwide has been pegged at around 4,000, virtually unchanged despite the military’s supposed gains against insurgency. – Alexis Romero