2 soldiers hurt in landmine blast in North Cotabato

MAGPET, North Cotabato -Two soldiers belonging to military’s 57thInfantry Battalion were injured when a landmine believed to be planted by New Peoples Army (NPA),exploded shortly before noon on Wednesday, a military official said. Army Captain Manuel Gatus, 57th IB spokesperson, said the wounded soldiers were conducting environmental patrol in Sitio Natutungan, Barangay Bagumbayan, Magpet when they stepped on the explosive.Barangay Bagumbayan is one of the NPA infiltrated villages of Magpet. He said thewounded soldiers have beengiven medical attention in an undisclosed hospital in the province and are now safe. He said thethe 57thIB strongly condemned the use of Improvised Explosive Device (IED) as it was a violation of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) which the National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF)was a signatory. We are afraid that civilians in the community may suffer casualties if this group continue their atrocities,” Gatus in the statement said. At least 17 villages in Magpet has military presence due to Peace and Development Operation (PDOP) which aims to bring peace and order as well as implementation of development projects in the area.Military PDOP is also implemented in the towns of Tulunan, Makilala and Arakan Valley complex.The presence of soldiers in the villages has been opposed violently by communist guerillas and other militant groups.