Explosive materials seized in Tapaz encounter

By Jennifer P. Rendon

The Philippine Army’s 301st Infantry Battalion scored the New People’s Army (NPA) for their continued use of anti-personnel landmine.

This, after a landline and materials for making explosives were recovered during an armed encounter between the 12th Infantry Battalion and suspected NPA members at Sitio Tabiay, Barangay Buri, Tapaz, Capiz late morning of July 1, 2021.

Brigadier General Marion Sison, 301st IB commander, said Army troops seized the items after a one-hour firefight.

Most of the recoveries were materials used in making anti-personnel mines, he added.

“These are proofs of NPA’s continued use of landmines which is a clear violation of the International Humanitarian Law (IHL),” Sison said.

He noted that the anti-personnel mines are usually meant to indiscriminately destroy lives, including innocent civilians.

Sison said the encounter happened following reports from residents on the presence of around 15 armed rebels in the area.

They are believed to be members of the Igabon Platoon of the NPA’s Central Front.

“The people in the community are complaining about the NPA terrorists who were extorting money and food supplies. They are using threat and violence to force the people to give in to their demand,” he said.

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.

There was no casualty on the government side.

The encounter happened several months after a lull in firefight in that part of central Panay.

As this developed, Sison has urged the NPAs to lay down their arms peacefully and abandon the armed struggle to be with their family and community, as he assured them that their human rights will be respected.

He also instructed the troops to ensure the safety and security of the populace in the area following the encounter.