Military foil landmine attack by leftist rebels in north Philippine

Philippine government troops have foiled a landmine explosion attempt in northern Philippine province of Albay after the discovery of two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) allegedly planted by the leftist rebel New People's Army (NPA), the military said Sunday. A seven-man team of the Army's 91st Division Reconnaissance Company of the 9th Infantry division encountered about 12 rebels while conducting security operations at Sinagaran village in Jovellar town at around 3:15 p.m. on Saturday, said Brigadier General Yerson Depayso, commander of the 9th Infantry Division. The firefight lasted for about 10 minutes in which the enemy withdrew heading towards the northwest direction of the encounter site. There was no casualty on the government side, and the situation on the enemy is undetermined, said Depayso. The government troops scoured the encounter site, believed to be the harboring area of the rebel group, and found two IEDs with 100 meters' wire, the official said. Depayso condemned the NPA's use of IED as it could inflict casualties to innocent civilians. He noted that the NPA is one of the signatories of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) which clearly stated that the use of IEDs and landmines is prohibited to prevent damages to civilian. The NPA, an armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, has been waging a guerrilla campaign in the countryside for four decades.