COMPOSTELA VALLEY- An improvised bomb that was planted by NPA rebels exploded as soldiers passed by in a remote village of Compostela Valley, killing one soldier at around 5:30 p.m. today, 27 February 2012.
The Army's Peace and Development teams belonging to the Bravo Company of 25th Infantry Battalion, 10th Infantry Division, were conducting security patrols in Brgy San Vicente, Montevista town when a landmine suddenly exploded, sending shrapnel and debris all over the blast site.
As soldiers rushed for cover, the at least 15 rebels opened fire, triggering an intense firefight that lasted several minutes.
The rebels fled with their casualties when met with overwhelming fires from the soldiers.
Four soldiers who sustained shrapnel and gunshot wounds were promptly evacuated to a local hospital. One of them expired due to a fatal head wound.
The other casualties were declared out of danger by attending physicians.
The Army has deplored the rampant use of the banned landmines by the NPA rebels, which is a violation to the laws of armed conflict.
The use of landmines also violates the Comprehensive Agreement on Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law which was signed by the GRP and the NDF.
Most importantly, any violation to the IHL is also punishable by domestic laws, particularly the Republic Act 9851 which was signed into law in 2009.
R.A. No. 9851 is a special law which is not simply criminal law but also international criminal law, international humanitarian law and international human rights law.
Civilian death toll
The use of landmines also violates the Comprehensive Agreement on Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law which was signed by the GRP and the NDF.
Most importantly, any violation to the IHL is also punishable by domestic laws, particularly the Republic Act 9851 which was signed into law in 2009.
R.A. No. 9851 is a special law which is not simply criminal law but also international criminal law, international humanitarian law and international human rights law.
Civilian death toll
Civilian deaths had been recorded as a result to the continuous employment of improvised landmines by the NPA in Region 11 and CARAGA region.
Early this year, an elderly woman was killed by an NPA landmine in the CARAGA region.
Last year, a civilian was killed and four others were wounded when they were attacked by armed rebels using the killer landmine, after taking part in a rally for peace and development in Maco, Compostela Valley.
In December 2010, the rebels detonated landmines which claimed the lives of 10 Army soldiers and a nine-year old boy in Northern Samar
In 2009, communist rebels ambushed and wounded former Masbate Governor Elisa Kho.
Kho was riding a vehicle in a convoy along the national highway towards Masbate City when NPA rebels detonated two explosive devices, wounding her.
More and more people have expressed anger over the NPA's insistence to use the banned landmines in its attacks against government forces.
Its funny how you give war rules so the other side can take advantage of it and violate them
ReplyDeleteLeo,
ReplyDeleteThe soldiers are not the ones who created the rules of war. As bearers of arms that kill, we respect the existing laws of armed conflict.
Don't you think the the laws of armed conflict are irrelevant? Do you think that we do not need them?
Just imagine if soldiers will not observe any rules of engagement. The absence of rules of war will allow all combatants to use their armed capability to wipe out villages without thinking about innocent civilians, women, non-military targets.
The objective of waging wars is not wipe out the enemy.Gone are the days when savages decimate people to win their wars.
Our soldiers today respect the laws of war, rule of law and observe people's rights, despite the rampant violations to the same laws of war by the insurgents that we are confronting.
Seeing the catastrophic outcome of wars, some people created the rules that must be observed by law abiding people of the present civilized society. They call it the Geneva Convention.
The types of violations to the promulgated Geneva Conventions are using illegal weapons that kill innocent civilians. Landmines are included if you want to do some research.
Let me tell you that it was the Philippine Government which enacted the law called R.A. 9851 that punishes violations to the laws of armed conflict.
State forces (soldiers/policemen) and non-state actors (NPA, MILF, MNLF) can be prosecuted if they are found to be violating this law.