TACLOBAN CITY -- A soldier was killed, while five others were injured in a mine blast allegedly perpetrated by the New People’s Army on Tuesday morning, July 19, in Catubig, Northern Samar.
The communist rebels allegedly used anti-personnel mines against the troops belonging to the 20th Infantry Battalion who were conducting a Community Support Program (CSP) in the area in Brgy. Osang.
Lieutenant Colonel Joemar Buban, Commanding Officer of 20IB, has yet to disclose the identities of the casualties.
He said the injured soldiers were transported to Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center.
Barangay Osang is among the six recipient barangays in Northern Samar of the P20 million worth of Support to Barangay Development Program (SBDP) in 2021.
He said the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police tied up to redeploy CSP Teams in Brgy. Osang and other conflict-affected barangays to ensure that the project implementation of SBDP will push through and not be hampered by the NPA’s extortion and intimidation.
He disclosed that the communist NPA terrorists returned in an attempt to recover their lost mass base in the area.
He called on the Commission of Human Rights to investigate and make a statement on the alleged continuous inexcusable violations of the Ottawa Convention, International Humanitarian Law, and the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity by communist NPA terrorists in Northern Samar.
Buban also pointed out that the said terroristic attack of the CNTs is a clear violation of the Ottawa Convention (Mine Ban Treaty) that prohibits the use, stockpiling, production, and transfer of anti-personnel landmines (APLs).
"The 20IB has been doing its best to help the conflict-affected barangays through our Community Support Program Teams to achieve long-lasting peace and sustainable development in Northern Samar," added Buban.