The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has started its own investigation on two “senseless terroristic” incidents -- the Masbate landmine blast last June 6 and the burning of a passenger bus in Barangay Bialong, M'lang, North Cotabato last June 3.

The Masbate landmine blast claimed the lives of two individuals -- Keith Absolon, 21, a football varsity player of the Far Eastern University (FEU), and his cousin, Nolven Absalon, 40. Nolven’s son, 16 years old, sustained injuries due to the explosion.

CHR Spokesperson Jacqueline Ann de Guia said that the anti-personnel landmine was reportedly detonated by alleged members of the New People's Army. The victims were riding a bicycle when the blast occurred.

De Guia said: "The CHR strongly condemns this act. The use of anti-personnel landmine is a violation of the International Humanitarian Law (IHL). Not only do they cause exceptionally severe injuries, suffering, and death, anti-personnel landmines also fail to distinguish between civilians and combatants, such as what happened in this case."

"We stress that even non-State actors, such as the NPA, are bound to respect IHL, alongside the government," she stressed.

She also said the CHR Region XII has already started looking into the torching of the passenger bus that claimed the lives of three passengers and injured six others.

She lambasted the two latest "senseless terroristic acts" as these claimed innocent lives and affected the lives of their families.

"We extend our deepest condolences and prayers to the family and friends of the victims," she said.

The CHR, she added, urged concerned agencies to work together to ensure that there will be accountability from perpetrators and justice will be given to the victims and their families.

"Concrete steps must also be done to stop further hostilities and to reduce violence in order to prevent further loss of lives and other forms of violations of human rights," she also said.