NPA landmines Red Cross convoy; wounds 5 civilians BANSALAN, Davao del Sur – A convoy of ambulances from Davao del Sur was landmined by the New People’s Army in Bansalan this Sunday evening. At about 7:30pm, a convoy of three ambulances from Davao del Sur Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) headed by Bonita dela Cruz, Red Cross Davao del Sur Chapter headed by Winston Malinao and 39th Infantry Battalion ambulance headed by 1Lt Allan Dale Ibones heading towards Sitio Balutakay, Barangay Managa purposely to evacuate the wounded personnel of 39th IB, was landmined by the Front 51 of the New People’s Army under an alias Rangrang in Sitio Tower of said barangay. The landmine explosion resulted to the wounding of volunteers of the PDRRMC, namely, Henaro Dumayas, Alberto Cabual Jr, Arnel Valeroso, Ivan Malingo and Bonita Dela Cruz. Dumayas, who sustained wounds at the left forearm, left thigh and inferior side of the head, and Cabual, who was wounded at his left arm, are in critical condition in Digos Doctors Hospital, while the other three suffered slight wounds. The Davao del Sur PDRRMC ambulance was heavily damaged from the landmine. Initial reports stated that Menandro Villanueva, alias Nelson, Secretary of the Southern Mindanao Regional Committee personally ordered to Roberto Rosete, alias Bobby, Secretary of the Sub-Regional Committee 3 of the CPP-NPA, the landmining of the civilian ambulance. “We condemn to the highest degree this barbaric, brutal and inhumane act of the NPA clearly and gravely violating the Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law. We call on various human rights group including the Karapatan, Gabriela, Anakpawis and Bayan Muna who remained mum whenever the NPA commits serious human rights violations but are active whenever there are alleged, unfounded and deceitful propaganda against the government, to put a stop and to condemn the heinous crimes of the NPA,” said Colonel Marcos Norman Flores Jr, Commander of the 1002nd Infantry Brigade. “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 (CARHRIHL) specifically Part IV, Article 4.4, which states that civilians shall be treated as such, shall be distinguished from combatants, shall not be the object of attack and they shall be protected against the use of explosives such as landmines. 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,” Colonel Flores added. Earlier in the morning, troops of 39th IB under 1Lt Ian Rogel Ngalew acted on reports from the community regarding the consolidation of NPA members in Sitio Don Carlos in Managa. At about 11:18am, the troops encountered the NPA and firefight ensued for one hour. In the course of their maneuver, the troops were landmined by the NPA wounding eleven personnel including two military officers. On the other hand, community members reported that the NPA brought with them four dead members and several wounded from the firefight. Released by: 1002nd Brigade Public Affairs Office Contact Person: Cpt William Alfred T Rodriguez (CAV) PA Contact Number: 0917-5580921
Posted on: Tue, 04 Mar 2014 11:53:02 +0000
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