MANILA, Philippines - The National Democratic Front (NDF) has ordered the giving of compensation to civilians who were injured during a landmine incident in Davao del Sur early this month.
The military, however, maintained that compensating the victims would not remove the criminal liability of those behind the atrocity.
Rubi del Mundo, spokesperson of the NDF Southern Mindanao chapter, said third-party facilitators composed of church people, medical practitioners and other advocates have been requested to expedite the dispensing of the indemnity.
“The order acts upon the apology and recommendations submitted by the Southern Mindanao Regional Command of the New People’s Army (NPA),†Del Mundo said in a statement.
“The revolutionary government is intrinsically founded on the absolute respect for human rights and international humanitarian law,†she added.
The NDF statement did not provide details as to how the injured civilians would get their compensation.
At least 15 persons, including four civilians, were injured in violent incidents involving the NPA last March 2 in Barangay Managa in Bansalan town.
Eleven soldiers were hurt in a clash with communist rebels in the area at around 11 a.m. At least four non-combatants were injured after a convoy of ambulances sent to assist the wounded soldiers hit a landmine at about 7:30 p.m.
The wounded civilians were identified as Genaro Doronio Dumayas, Bonita dela Cruz, Arnel Comandante Veloroso and Alberto Simbajon Cabual.
Armed Forces public affairs chief Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala said the paying of indemnity reflects the communist rebels’ guilt.
“Such payment does not mean that everything is okay. It doesn’t mean that they are no longer liable for their actions,†Zagala said in an interview.
“Their continued use of landmine shows their terroristic tendency,†he added.