The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) today (Aug. 20) condemned the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) for continuing to manufacture anti-personnel mines (APM) after government troops raided a bomb-making terrorist camp in an upland village in Dolores, Eastern Samar on Monday (Aug. 16).
“Kahit na mahigpit na ipinagbabawal ng batas at ng international humanitarian law (IHL), patuloy pa rin ang mga communist terrorist groups (CTGs) sa paggawa ng mga bomba na kikitil sa buhay ng mga tao,” DILG Sec. Eduardo Año said.
“Wala talaga silang konsensya at walang pakialam kung sino ang mapinsala, sundalo, pulis man o sibilyan, basta makapaghasik ng lagim at maagaw ang kapangyarihan mula sa gobyerno.”
Año said the CPP-NPA seems to have a short memory as they have conveniently forgotten the murder of Far Eastern University football player Keith Absalon and his cousin who died while biking after communist terrorists in Masbate detonated an APM in June of this year.
“Tila nakalimutan na agad ng CPP-NPA kung paano nagalit ang publiko sa pagkamatay ng mga Absalon dahil sa kahayupan nila. Kunwari ay humingi pa sila ng tawad sa mga namatayan, pero ang totoo ay wala silang budhi dahil tuloy pa rin ang paggawa at paggamit nila ng APM,” he said.
The use of landmines is a violation of the Ottawa Convention or the 1997 Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Treaty signed by 133 states and adopted by 164 state parties, including the Philippines. It prohibits the production, stockpiling, transfer, and use of anti-personnel mines (APMs) which cause serious destruction and indiscriminately harm civilians, including children. The use of landmines is also a violation of Republic Act No. 9851 which penalizes crimes against IHL.
Based on reports from the Philippine National Police Regional Office 8 and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Año said Joint Task Force Storm of the Philippine Army’s 8th Infantry Division (8ID) based in Catbalogan City launched ground, air, and sea raids in Brgy. Osmeña after getting a tip from locals on an explosives manufacturing site and NPA camp in the area.
He said 19 NPA members died in the day-long encounter while there were no casualties from government forces. Twenty-nine high-powered firearms were also seized from the CTGs during the raid.
“The DILG congratulates the 8th Infantry Division for its successful operation against communist terrorists. This operation is a big blow to the terrorism-capacity of the CPP-NPA-NDF in Samar,” Año said.
According to the AFP, in Eastern Samar at least 29 villages are still NPA strongholds while at least 45 new villages have already been cleared of communist terrorists.
“The CPP-NPA is fighting a losing battle. Habang may panahon pa ay sumuko na kayo at magbagong-buhay, dahil kailanman ay hindi nagwawagi ang karahasan at kasamaan,” Año said.
The DILG chief urged the NPA to grab the chance to reform and lead new lives through the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP), a complete package of assistance to former rebels (FRs).
So far, a total of 6,418 FRs and rebel sympathizers have laid down their arms and availed of E-CLIP. Of this number, 6,164 FRs have each received P15,000 immediate assistance; 3,744 were given P50,000 livelihood assistance; 1,430 have availed of firearms remuneration; and 5,198 have each been granted with P21,000 reintegration. (DILG) – jlo
