A RANKING military official in the Bicol Region said the recent anti-personnel mine (APM) blast that killed two civilians and wounded another in Masbate is a manifestation of communist terrorist groups’ (CTGs) weakening capability as they can no longer face the security forces head-on.
Army Major Gen. Henry A. Robinson, Joint Task Force (JTF) Bicolandia commander, in a statement Sunday, strongly condemned the terrorist attack as he extended his condolences to the bereaved family of Kieth Absalon, 21, a promising football player of the Far Eastern University, and his cousin Nolven Absalon, 40. Kieth’s 16-year-ol nephew, Chrisbin Absalon sustained injuries.
New People’s rebels detonated an APM while the victims and a group of bikers pedaled their way in Purok 4, Barangay Anas, Masbate City at around 10 a.m. of June 6.
On May 1, two civilians were killed and five others were injured in an APM explosion detonated by NPA rebels in Uson, Masbate. On May 23, a government employee was also injured after an NPA-planted APM exploded in Milagros, Masbate.
He said that around the same time on Sunday, another explosion in Barangay Homapon, Legazpi City injuring four motorists including a lawyer.
"The incidents in Masbate and Legazpi were violations of the International Humanitarian Law (IHL) as the terrorists targeted innocent civilians. These crimes are proofs that the CTG is anti-people, anti-development, and selfish,” Robinson said.
This, he said, is the reason why Bicolanos loathe communist insurgency because they know that as long as it exists, communist terrorists, who are controlled by their leaders, will continue to spread violence and terror.
"Sinasabi nilang pinuprotektahan nila ang masa at binabatikos nila ang gobyerno dahil sa mga pagkukulang nito pero ang totoo, ang kanilang grupo ang nagpapahirap sa mamamayan dahil pansariling interes lamang ang kanilang iniisip," he said.
Robinson assured that JTF Bicolandia will work hand in hand with their counterpart in the Philippine National Police to arrest the perpetrators of the heinous crimes. (Gigie Arcilla)
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