Ex-rebel tips off Army that leads to discovery of 1K dynamites in Bukidnon

[ASEAN NOW News]

DYNAMITES. More than 1,000 pieces of dynamites used by the New People’s Army (NPA) as landmines are seized by the Philippine Army in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon on Oct. 8. The Army discovered the cache in Sitio Malinao, Barangay Kalasungay through a tip from a former communist guerrilla. (Photo courtesy of 4ID)

 

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – A tip from a former communist guerrilla led to the discovery of 1,076 pieces of dynamites and anti-personnel landmines (APMs) from the New People’s Army (NPA) that were seized by the Philippine Army in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.

 

A statement from the Army's 8th Infantry Battalion (8IB) on Monday said former rebel leader Ronald Landasan alias “Gamay” or “Gaspar,” led the military to the dynamites, that he claimed were being used as material to make APMs.

The Army discovered the cache in Sitio Malinao, Barangay Kalasungay on October 8.

 

Before his surrender, Landasan was a former squad leader of NPA’s Sentro De Gravidad Dario, Guerrilla Front 89, Sub-Regional Committee 2, North Central Mindanao Regional Committee.

 

The 8IB quoted Landasan as saying that he revealed the location of the hidden dynamites because he did not want them to be used against the soldiers and civilians.

 

According to the 8IB, Landasan said the dynamites were intended to be used by the NPA to wound and kill soldiers operating in the mountains of Bukidnon.

 

Lt. Col. Edgardo Talaroc Jr., 8IB commander, reiterated that the NPA has evidently violated the provisions of the Ottawa Treaty.

 

“We will also investigate and find out the source who gave the said dynamites to the (NPA) to file charges against them,” he said.

 

Brig. Gen. Ferdinand Barandon, commander of the 403rd Infantry Brigade, said the seizure of the dynamites has prevented the plan of the NPA rebels to inflict harm against government soldiers and innocent civilians.

 

The dynamites were turned over to the Bukidnon Provincial Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Canine for proper disposition.

 

More APMs to dispose

 

Meanwhile, the Philippine Army's 4th Infantry Division (4ID) said more APMs, and other explosive devices recovered in Northern Mindanao and Caraga regions will be detonated before the year ends.

 

"There will be the next batch for those that were not detonated," said Maj. Francisco Garello Jr., chief of the 4ID's public affairs office, in an interview Monday.

 

The 4ID reported that an initial seventy-seven assorted IEDs, purposely made as APMs, have earlier been safely disposed of by the 10th Forward Service Support Unit (10FSSU) in a secluded section of Barangay Signalwoman here on Oct. 1.

 

These were the explosives seized by various Army battalions in different operations against the NPA in parts of the Northern Mindanao and the Caraga region.

 

Maj Gen Romeo S Brawner Jr, the 4ID commander, said all APMs recovered by government troops from the NPA will be continuously disposed of throughout the rest of the year.

 

Brawner said the recent disposal of the APMs is made to ensure that it will not be used anymore since it is strictly prohibited and a clear violation of the International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and the Ottawa Treaty.

 

Under the Ottawa Treaty or the 1997 APM Ban Convention, the use of landmines is prohibited.

 

It particularly disallows the production, stockpiling, transfer, and use of APMs to ensure the implementation of humanitarian rules restricting armed violence. 

 

The Philippines' Anti-Terrorism Council has designated the CPP, NPA, and NDF as terrorist groups.

 

The European Union, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines also listed the CPP-NPA as a terrorist organization. (PNA)