Army troopers foil rebels’ landmining attempt in Albay

MANILA — Troopers from the 2nd Infantry Battalion foiled a landmining attempt by New People’s Army (NPA) rebels at Barangay Bololo, Guinobatan, Albay Sunday morning.

Southern Luzon Command spokesperson Major Angelo Guzman said government troops were on routine security patrol when they spotted five heavily-armed rebels at 6:40 a.m.

This triggered a five-minute firefight which resulted in the rebel force retreating, leaving behind one improvised landmine.

No losses were sustained by government forces even as pursuit operations are still ongoing.

Lt. Col. Perfecto Penaredondo, 2nd Infantry Battalion commander, said the incident demonstrated the NPA’s lack of respect for the Geneva Conventions and the Comprehensive Agreement for Respect to Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law as usage of landmine has been prohibited in land combat due to its indiscriminate nature.

Landmine cannot distinguish between non-combatant and combatants and often inflicts terrible and fatal wounds to individuals unlucky enough to step on it or be hit by its shrapnel.