Duterte twits NPA for using landmine in ambush

MANILA, Philippines - Davao City mayor Rodrigo Duterte scored the New People's Army (NPA) for using landmines in attacking a group of soldiers in Paquibato District Thursday. Online news site Mindanao Daily Mirror reported Friday Duterte is trying to get in touch with local NPA leaders to find out why they used a landmine in that ambush. "They invoke the (Geneva) Convention and yet pumutok ang land mine (and yet they used a landmine)," he said. He said the use of landmines violates the Geneva Convention, which bans such weapons. Duterte added it is only the Geneva Convention that prevents the conflict between the government and the NPA from "deteriorating into an insane war." He pointed out the NPA uses the same convention as a shield against government attacks. A member of the Army's 1003rd Infantry Brigade was killed in the attack at 1:15 p.m. in Sitio Panialum. Four others were wounded in the attack. Paquibato district police chief Senior Inspector Dave Liboon did not immediately identify the casualty. Three of the four wounded soldiers identified as Sgt. Telco Lagarde, 37; Cpl. Arpa Jovael Alele, 57; and Pfc. Catalino Awit. They were rushed to the Davao Medical Center and were declared out of danger. Liboon said eight military vehicles of the 1003rd Infantry Brigade were on their way to Paquibato proper when one of the vehicles hit the land mine. The troops were conducting special operations in Paquibato District when the incident occurred. Meanwhile, suspected members of the New People's Army (NPA) attacked a Globe Telecom in barangay Pasian, Monkayo, Compostela Valley before dawn on Wednesday. Monkayo police said about 30 members of the NPA's Guerrilla Front 20 in Southern Mindanao attacked the tower around 5:50 a.m. on January 28. The rebels, however, failed to destroy the tower as members of the Citizen's Armed Forces and Geographical Unit (CAFGU) and some soldiers of the 72nd Infantry Battalion Philippine Army repelled the attack. The rebels retreated towards the mountains after a half-hour-long gunfight. - GMANews.TV