AFP urges NDF to surrender men in Davao landmine blast

MANILA, Philippines - The military on Thursday dared the National Democratic Front (NDF) to surrender the rebels behind the recent landmine incident in Davao del Sur that left 15 persons, including four civilians, wounded.

Armed Forces public affairs chief Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala stressed that the giving of compensation to wounded civilians would not remove the rebels’ criminal liability.

“The payment does not exonerate you from the crimes you did. You must be accountable to the people you've hurt,” Zagala told reporters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

“If they (NDF) are sincere, they should submit those who are responsible to face the law because that action is the only way that the people they hurt will get justice,” he added.

Zagala was reacting to the NDF’s announcement that it would indemnify civilians who were injured in a landmine explosion in Bansalan, Davao del Sur this month.

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 asked to fast-track the dispensing of the indemnity.

Zagala said the indemnification was “an admission of guilt that they attack civilians.”

“The use of landmines is a violation of CAHRIHL (Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law). It’s inhumane. They should stop it,” he said.

At least 15 persons, including four civilians, were hurt in violent incidents involving communist insurgents last March 2 in Barangay Managa in Bansalan town.

Eleven soldiers were wounded in an encounter with the insurgents at around 11 a.m. Later in the evening, four civilians were hurt after a convoy of ambulances sent to assist the injured soldiers hit a landmine.

The wounded civilians were from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and were identified as Genaro Doronio Dumayas, Bonita dela Cruz, Arnel Comandante Veloroso and Alberto Simbajon Cabual.