ILOILO CITY—Landmine attack allegedly staged by New People’s Army (NPA) rebels happened in Janiuay town, Iloilo province Wednesday, March 3.
Colonel Gilbert Gorero, chief of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO), said that no one from the 603rd Company of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB) were hurt when an improvised explosive device (IED) was detonated in Panuran village past 9 a.m.
Gorero told Manila Bulletin that policemen were conducting road clearing operation as there was a scheduled inauguration of an agro forestry support facility in neighboring Agcarope village. The facility’s construction is funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and implemented by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-6).
“When the first landmine was detonated, the police patrol vehicle already passed by it,” Gorero said.
Gorero added that a second landmine was found, but was not detonated as the NPA rebels handling it tried to evade authorities.
Gorero has reason to believe the suspects may be the same NPA rebels who also blew up a landmine in Tubugan town last December 2020. No one was also hurt in the incident.
“The NPA rebels are the ones who are opposed (to the) development,” Gorero said.