The Armed Forces of the Philippines' (AFP) 8th Infantry Division (8ID) identified on Monday, June 5, the two civilian workers who died when suspected New People's Army (NPA) rebels detonated an anti-personnel mine in Las Navas, Northern Samar.
***(Photo courtesy of 803rd Brigade, 8th Infantry Division)***
Killed were Roel Lebico and Jerson Cabe, both residents of Barangay Quirino, Las Navas, and were hired as construction workers in an ongoing farm-to-market road project in the town.
A report from the 8ID showed that an anti-personnel mine planted by suspected NPA rebels suddenly went off in Brgy. Magsaysay last June 3.
The victims, according to the military, were passing by in the area and hit by shrapnel. They also sustained gunshot wounds, the report added.
Maj. Gen. Camilo Z. Ligayo, 8ID commander, condemned the attack allegedly perpetrated by members of the NPA's Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee (EVRPC) as it "cost the lives of innocent civilians."
"The EVRPC blatantly disregards the human rights which is evident on their continuous use of banned weapons. The use of indiscriminate weapons increases the chance of jeopardizing the lives of innocent non-combatants," Ligayo said, noting that anti-personnel mine is prohibited for use during armed hostilities under the 1997 Ottawa Convention.
"Let us call on the CTGs [communist terrorist group] to stop their violent activities and discuss things in a peaceful manner," he added.
In recent years, the 8ID has recorded several cases of explosions allegedly perpetrated by NPA rebels.
Capt. Jefferson Mariano, chief of 8ID public affairs office, said among these resulted in the death of 10-year-old Armando Jay Raymond on April 17, 2019 in Brgy. San Miguel, Las Navas; the death of two police personnel and wounding of four others who were members of the Community Support Program (CSP) Teams of the 20th Infantry Battalion in Brgy. San Miguel on April 3, 2022; injury of seven soldiers on July 5, 2022 in Brgy. Magsaysay, Mapanas; and the killing of a soldier and wounding of five others in the remote village of Osang in Catubig, Northern Samar on July 19, 2022.