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Masbate landmine blast: What we know so far

LEGAZPI CITY (PIA) -- What seemed to be a morning fun bike turned out to be a gruesome end for two cousins, a varsity footballer and a labor leader, after a land mine exploded in Anas, Masbate City, Sunday, June 6.

Two days later, the communist New People’s Army took full responsibility for the blast, saying it was “errors in military action mounted by an NPA unit.”

On Tuesday afternoon, a firefight between government security forces and the NPA ensued, leaving three communist terrorists dead. Several high-powered firearms were seized during the encounter.

Apology not enough

Following its confession, the NPA and its umbrella organization, the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), were deluged with condemnation from the government and the public. The admission of atrocity was not enough. The government demanded the surrender of the bombers and their leaders.

On Friday, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) demanded "greater accountability" from CPP-NPA. It called on the government to ensure that perpetrators are held to account under the law.

“If the New People’s Army is serious and sincere about taking accountability for the IED (improvised explosive device) killing of civilians in Masbate—beyond owning responsibility, offering indemnity, and promising an investigation—they should identify all those responsible and surrender them to the lawful authorities to face justice within the court system. They should likewise be held accountable for all other crimes they have perpetrated in violation of international humanitarian and human rights laws since they began pursuing this armed conflict,” CHR said in a statement.

Col. Aldwine Almase, commander of 903rd Infantry Brigade, lambasted the communist terrorist group for the "cowardly" acts of bombing civilians. Almase said the Left resorted to desperate tactics because the Joint Task Force (JTF) Bicolandia and Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) have created sustainable and successful intensified security operations and campaigns in Bicol.

In a statement, Almase said: “These were conducted to intimidate the populace, the local government officials and other sectors of the society who are now aware and denouncing the unacceptable ways and objectives of the terrorist NPAs and their cohorts.”

Major General Henry Robinson Jr., head of the 9th Infantry Division stressed that the bombing was a manifestation of the CPP-NPA's weakening capability as they could no longer face the security forces head-on.

Robinson described the communist terrorist group as "anti-people, anti-development and selfish."

“Sinasabi nilang pinuprotektahan nila ang masa at binabatikos nila ang gobyerno dahil sa mga pagkukulang nito pero ang totoo, ang kanilang grupo ang nagpapahirap sa mamamayan dahil pansariling interes lamang ang kanilang iniisip. The JTF Bicolandia will work hand in hand with our counterpart in the PNP to arrest the perpetrators of these heinous crimes," Robinson said.



Undersecretary Lorraine Marie T. Badoy, speaking for the National Task Force – ELCAC also called on various government agencies and human rights defenders to "join hands with us in the expression of this outrage and the ending of this tragic chapter in the country’s history by ending what must be ended—the life of this terrorist organization, CPP NPA NDF that has brought nothing but pain and suffering to our people."

In the Laging Handa Briefing, June 10, Major General Edgard Arevalo, spokesperson of AFP, asked the cooperation from the public to immediately report any terrorist activities in their communities to the authorities.

Arevalo then reminded politicians and election candidates not to give money to these rebels because it signifies their support to them, since the May 2022 national and local elections are already fast approaching.

The Absalon cousins were laid to rest on Sunday in their hometown, with bereaved family seeking for justice. (KAB/PIA Bicol)

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Keren Anne Bernadas

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