Army soldiers seize anti-personnel mine in Iloilo

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Philippine Army troopers recovered another anti-personnel mine in southern Iloilo, days after they also seized explosive materials in Central Panay.

Members of the 61st Infantry (Hunter) Battalion found the anti-personnel mine (APM) at Sitio Parapada, Barangay Lanag Norte, Tubungan town on July 7, 2021.

The APM, which weighed around 8 kilograms and attached to 150 meters of electrical wiring, was hidden under a rock.

Army authorities believed that members of the New People’s Army (NPA) placed the explosives in the area.

“The NPA might have planned to use it to conduct a tactical offensive against the Community Support Program (CSP) Teams deployed in Tubungan,” Lieutenant Colonel Harold Garcia, 61IB commander, said.

But timely and reliable information provided by the local populace thwarted the rebels’ plan, Garcia added.

He pointed out that the NPA’s atrocities and inhuman plans to attack the Army troops hamper the conduct of developmental and community support activities in the area.

“The recovery of anti-personnel mine is a clear violation of International Humanitarian Law, which prohibits its use, stockpiling, production and transfer. Likewise, it had prevented the CTG’s plan to inflict casualty to our CSP teams and innocent civilians,” Garcia said.

APM and materials for making explosives were also recovered during an armed encounter between the 12th Infantry Battalion and suspected NPA at Sitio Tabiay, Barangay Buri, Tapaz, Capiz late morning of Thursday, July 1.

Aside from anti-personnel landmine, the soldiers also recovered nine backpacks; six hammocks; two stoves; four flashlights; three jungle bolos; two kilograms of tobacco; six kilograms of meat; a sack of rice; 150 meters of electrical wire; a binocular; five liters of gasoline; a container filled with fertilizer; medical supplies; subversive documents; assorted food supplies; and personal belongings.