Philippine troops stop potential deadly attack in South

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / May 3, 2010) – Philippine troops stopped a potential deadly attack after they recovered an improvised explosive planted at a roadside frequently used by civilians, officials said Monday.

Officials quickly blamed communist New People’s Army rebels for the failed weekend bombing in the village of Kauswagan in Davao Oriental’s Lupon town. It was the 17th explosives recovered by troops in Davao region, south of Mindanao Island, since early this year.

“Troops from the Army’s 28th Infantry Battalion discovered the IED while on clearing operation. Residents said they have noticed suspicious individuals frequenting their village but were not aware that some of them may have planted the IED,” said Army Captain Emmanuel Garcia, a spokesman for the 10th Infantry Division.

He said troops recovered the explosive made from ammonium nitrate, blasting cap and electric detonator.

In March, troops also recovered six improvised explosives from the NPA after a firefight in Monkayo town in Compostela Valley province that led to the capture of 13 rebels.

Major General Carlos Holganza, commander of the 10th Infantry Division, deplored the NPA’s continued use of improvised bombs, saying, “it is inhuman, unlawful and ungodly.”

“No amount of explanation can justify the use of such inhuman weapons that threatens not only soldiers but also non-combatants. The worse is that these terrorists are planting these IEDs along the road which pose great danger to our people,” Holganza said.

The NPA is the military wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines which is waging a secessionist war for decades for the establishment of a Maoist state in the country. (Mindanao Examiner)