A child was killed and another wounded and in serious condition when an improvised explosive device (IED) exploded in Tapaz, Capiz the blast happened at about 4:30 Sunday afternoon.
A PNP EOD post blast forensic investigation found, "The explosion was caused by the lapses while assembling of the IED by alleged new people’s army rebels." a media statement released from the Philippine Army’s 3rd infantry divivison on Panay Island said.
Police are also verifying eyewitness reports, "At least two unidentified NPA rebels – assembling the bomb," were also seriously wounded during the explosion based on statements of locals in the area.
Captain Reylan Java, spokesman of the Army’s 3rd Infantry (Spearhead) Division, identified the victims as Rodelyn Aguirre, 6 years old and her 5-years old sister Roda. Rodelyn died on the spot while Roda was wounded when the bomb exploded inside their home in Brgy Tacayan, Tapaz, Capiz Sunday afternoon.
Capt. Java further said that the IED was to have be used, "by the rebels for their terrorist activities in Capiz and other parts of Panay." According to AFP research the rebels in Panay island have increasingly turned to the use of explosives.
Most recently in August of 2011, when alleged NPA members used IED’s when they ambushed the army personnel belonging to the 61st Infantry Battalion in Brgy Switch, Tapaz, Capiz.
The AFP also says the rebels set up two IEDs near the Igcabugao Elementary School in Igbaras, Iloilo sometime March of 2010 but AFP and PNP bomb disposal teams recovered these while conducting peace and development works and a medical mission at the school which was believed to have been the target then.
Philippine military records, further show a total of seven IEDs were recovered by the 82nd Infantry Battalion in various NPA encampments in Igbaras and Miagao, both in Iloilo province, as far back as 2009.
In 2002, the leadership of the NPA announced they would be adopting the tactics of insurgents in Iraq; the Philippine military being primarily the targets. Since then numerous attacks have taken place across areas where the rebels opperate. Most are remote detonated devices similar to those used by Islamic extremists in the southern Philippine island of Mindanao.
The Philippine military believes that some members of the rebel groups have had ‘cross training’ and technology transfers between the armed groups who while ideological opposites cooperate at times in terms of technology, arms, and, offer safe havens for a price to each other. Or so the Armed Forces of the Philippines has reported in the past.
Proof of this the Police and military claim is during the escape of Rizal Day 2000 bomber Fathur Roman Al Ghozi, who hid out and was transported from Manila to Mindanao allegedly the military claims by members of other armed groups. A report released on synergy between the groups claimed in 2005.
Major General Jose Mabanta, Commander of the 3rd Infantry (Spearhead) Division, based in Camp Peralta, Jamindan, Capiz extended his deepest sympathy to the victims o fthe explosion incident. “We appeal to the leadership of the NPA to spare our children from harm and stay away from the communities that choose to live in peace,” said MGen Mabanta.
“The four decades of armed struggle have only brought senseless deaths and miseries to the lives of innocent civilians,” Mabanta added. He also said social problems in our country can easily be solved in an environment of peace rather than through armed struggle."
Gen. Mabanta to rebels "Stop using children in this conflict"