PANTUKAN, COMPOSTELA VALLEY – A truck driver transporting improvised landmines was intercepted at Pantukan, ComVal Province yesterday.
Oliver Bolusan, 35 years old, married, professional driver and a resident of Purok 5, Caramcam District, Mangagoy, Bislig City, was intercepted and apprehended at around 10:30 p.m. yesterday last Wednesday (May 2) by the joint elements of Pantukan Police Station and the 71st Infantry Battalion during checkpoint at National Highway Town site, Brgy. Kingking, Pantukan, Compostela Valley Province.
Confiscated from the suspect are 12 pieces of improvised landmines (7.5 inches in diameter) and other suspected incendiary devices found inside his driven white Fuso dump truck.
In a statement, Lt. Col. Jerry Borja, Commander of the 71st Infantry Battalion, said “based on the kind and make of these landmines, there is no doubt that they are owned by the Organized Crime Group-New People’s Army (OCG-NPA). Accordingly, these landmines are bigger than the ones used in Libay-Libay, Maco Landmine Massacre. If not seized, these landmines might have injured or killed anyone.
A piece of this landmine has a killing radius of 50 meters, if three are combined, anyone within five meters can be killed by its blast alone even without the shrapnel. If all 12 are combined, it can easily collapse a two-storey building.”
The confiscated items were brought to Pantukan Police Station for proper handling and disposition.
Brig. Gen. Ariel B. Bernardo, Commander of Philippine Army’s 10th Infantry Division, commended the soldiers and the PNP for being vigilant and prompt in doing their jobs.
“The use of landmines is a violation of the provisions of CARHRIHL specifically Part III, Article 2, Paragraph 15. We condemn to the highest degree the NPA’s continued use of these banned landmines,” Brig. Gen. Bernardo also said. (10th ID PA)
No comments:
Post a Comment