TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines — Government troopers recovered 38 anti-personnel landmines left behind by New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Barangay Sag-od in Las Navas, Northern Samar on Thursday.
First Lt. Mark Angelo Pandoy, 3rd Infantry Battalion (IB) commander, said the landmines were discovered during pursuit operations for NPA guerrillas following an encounter with soldiers.
NPA rebels are known to use landmines in attacking government forces.
Pandoy noted that stockpiling of landmines does not only endanger the lives of civilians but also violate international laws.
Col. Perfecto Peñaredondo, 803rd Infantry Brigade commander, commended 3rd IB soldiers for the recovery of the landmines even as he encouraged civilians to provide information in support of the government’s campaign against terrorists.