2 landmine explosions hurt 8 people in DN, CV

FIVE soldiers and three civilians were wounded in two separate landmine explosions allegedly perpetrated by members of the New People’s Army (NPA) along the national highway in Davao del Norte and Compostela Valley, yesterday.

The first landmine explosion took place at 6 a.m. and wounded Private First Class (Pfc.) Lovie Joy Semillano, Pfc. Bai Johana Durado, Pfc. Joseph A. Mendio, Pfc. Erwin Cordero, Pfc. Ryan Torena, and one civilian named Gina Gubantes.

Lt. Vilma Mojado, spokesperson for the 1001st Brigade Battalion, said the troops of Army’s 66th Infantry Battalion on board a military truck KM250 led by First Lieuten- ant Grace Joy P. Arado, were hit by a landmine in Barangay Magdum in Tagum City at around 6 a.m.

Mojado said the troops were on their way to the city proper to buy some supplies when they hit a landmine that wounded five soldiers and a civilian. She added that the victims were brought to Tagum Doctor’s Hospital.

“Of the five soldiers, Semillano and Mendio are still confined for observation and treatment while Cordero, Durado, Torena and the civilian were already declared out of danger,” Mojado said.

One and a half hour later, another landmine exploded in Barangay Tagmanok in Mawab town in Compostela Valley involving the reinforcing troops of 1001st Brigade on board a KM450 vehicle.

Mojado said the troops were also assigned to conduct a road clearing patrol along Tagum-Mawab Highway when the incident happened around 7:30 a.m.

Lt. Col. Michael Logico, commander of the 66th Infantry Battalion, said there were reports that some civilians were injured and properties damaged on the

incident. He added that one taxi and a motorcycle were on the rear of truck when the landmine exploded.

Logico said based on reports, the windshield and bumper of the taxi were damaged while the two riders of the motorcycle were injured. The name of the two civilians are yet to be identified.

Col. Angelito De Leon, commander of the 1001st Brigade, condemned the barbaric act of the NPA, after the two successive landmine incidents were both done along national road wherein many commuters pass by.

“These desperate acts of the NPA put innocent civilians in harm as they can no longer claim that they just hit the military. This incident occurred in the national highways were many travelers pass. Nadamay pati inosenteng civilian,” De Leon said. De Leon added that they would launch a pursuit operation against the suspects behind the incident. ICT