Published on: June 16, 2023
By Ailene Diaz
CATARMAN, Northern Samar (PIA) – The families of two civilian construction workers cried for justice for the death of their family members due to anti-personnel mines explosion staged by the CPP-NPA-NDF on June 3, in the vicinity of Brgy. Magsaysay, Las Navas, Northern Samar.
In a report released by the Army's 803rd Brigade, Rowell Lebico and Hersan Cabe, both sustained gunshots aside from injuries suffered from the explosion of said anti-personnel mines.
Spokesperson of 20th Infantry Battalion (20IB) said this is not the first attack by the CPP-NPA-NDF that killed innocent civilians and government troops in the area.
“This is a clear violation of the OTTAWA Convention which prohibits the use, stockpiling, production, and transfer of these anti-personnel mines,” said Lieutenant Colonel Joemar Buban, 20IB commanding officer.
Lt. Col. Buban also revealed that the 20IB has been doing its best to help the conflict-affected barangays through their Mobile Community Support and Sustainment Program teams to achieve long-lasting peace and sustainable development in Northern Samar.
“We are calling the Commission of Human Rights to investigate and make a statement on these continuous inexcusable violations of Ottawa Convention, International Humanitarian Law, and RA 9851, by communist NPA terrorists in Northern Samar,” Buban urged.
He further said that the Local Government Unit of Las Navas is initiating a fact-finding team to investigate and possible filing of charges against the perpetrators as the family of victims cried for justice.
The 20IB strongly condemned the incident while extending its condolences to the families stating that no goal or ideology can justify the use of such destructive and indiscriminate explosive devices.
Accordingly, Col Efren F. Morados, Brigade commander of the 803rd Infantry “Peacemaker” Brigade which has operational control over 20IB, also condemned the atrocities of the Communist Terrorist Groups (CTGs).
“The incident is again a clear manifestation of the Communist Terrorist Group’s wanton disregard for the existing International Convention on the use of Mines and Booby Traps and this time, the CTG’s intentionally targeted innocent civilians,” Morados said.
“As the Peacemaker Troopers extend its deepest sympathy to the family of Lebico and Cabe, this is also an eye opener to all of Nortehanons to be vigilant in their communities and to support the programs of the provincial government to end the local communist armed conflict in Northern Samar,” said Morados. (ADiaz/PIA-N. Samar with reports from 803rd/PA)
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