More than 50 mines seized after clash with suspected NPA rebs in CamSur —military

Government forces recovered least 53 anti-personnel mines after a clash with suspected members of the New People’s Army in Camarines Sur on Monday, the military said Thursday.

In a statement, 9th Infantry Division spokesperson Captain John Paul Belleza said some residents of Barangay Del Carmen in Lagonoy reported the presence of the rebels in the area.

The 96th Infantry Battalion (96IB) conducted a security operation and encountered an undetermined number of suspected NPA members.

The military said after a 20-minute firefight, the rebels fled and left a stockpile of anti-personnel mines — 33 pieces weighing seven to 10 kilograms each and 20 pieces weighing four to five kilograms each.

Several bomb components were also recovered in the encounter site.

The Joint Task Force Bicolandia under Major General Henry Robinson Jr. condemned the rebels for their production and use of anti-personnel mines. He said these violate international and domestic laws.

Aside from the International Humanitarian Law, the military said the use of these mines also violates the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and other Crimes Against Humanity. —Joviland Rita/KBK, GMA News