NPA resorting to landmines to show force - AFP

Communist rebels have been using more and more landmines through the years despite the international ban on such explosives, the military said on Thursday. Records from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) showed that four landmine attacks had already been perpetrated by the New People’s Army (NPA) in the first three months of this year. Last year, the rebels perpetrated a total of 11 landmine attacks, mostly in the Davao, Cotabato, and Compostella Valley provinces; six in 2008; four in 2007; 10 in 2006; eight in 2005; four in 2004; five in 2003 and one in 2002. These attacks resulted in the killing and injuring of 186 people, including 34 civilians. The use of landmine is prohibited under the Mine Treaty Ban signed in Ottawa in 1997. “As shown in various incidents, civilians were disfigured or killed by these landmines. Even with the NPA’s knowledge of existing laws against the use of landmines, they chose to ignore such," said Brig. Gen. Francisco Cruz, chief of the AFP Civil Relations Service. Cruz said the use of landmines shows that the insurgents are “shifting strategies" due to their dwindling number. From a high of 25,000 in the 80s, the NPA’s strength is now down to a little over 4,000 men, military records show. “Without enough number to conduct assaults, landmine is the best option for them to inflict casualties since this entails only one or two members to execute the detonation," Cruz said. - KBK, GMANews.TV