Philippines army denounces communist rebel attacks

by Roy Ramos

ZAMBOANGA, the Philippines

The Philippines military on Monday denounced communist rebels in Mindanao Island over a spate of attacks in which civilians were either killed or wounded.

Reacting to a Saturday attack that killed a soldier and wounded two civilians, Lt. Col. Eduardo Gubat, spokesman of the military's Eastern Mindanao Command, told Anadolu Agency that the rebels actions are a violation of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law.

"It clearly states in the agreement that civilian population and civilians shall be distinguished from combatants and, together with their property, shall not be the object of attack. They shall likewise be protected against indiscriminate strafing,” Gubat said.

The Agreement was signed and agreed by the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front (NDF) - the political front of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) - March 16, 1998 at The Hague, The Netherlands.

Gubat said an adult and a minor were also wounded, while an army soldier was killed when some 30 guerrillas of the New People's Army (NPA), the armed wing of the CPP, indiscriminately fired guns on residents in the area.

He said that soldiers of the army's 58th Infantry Battalion under Lt. Col. Jose Eriel M. Niembra who were on security patrol in the area quickly responded and moved some of the civilians to a safer area.

"But a soldier was killed, one was wounded and another one was abducted by the rebels after a 20-minute firefight," he said.

Gubat said the village council of Alagatan had earlier requested security assistance from the 58th Infantry Battalion due to alleged extortion activities by the NPA rebels.

Soldiers were sent to verify the report and mounted security operations in the area.