DAVAO CITY (May 31) — The New People’s Army rebels attacked a convoy carrying foreign observers in the Impasug-ong town of Bukidnon Thursday (May 30), wounding 11 persons.
The military personnel onboard the vehicle covered the foreigners — to save their visitors
Colonel Edgardo De Leon, 403rd Brigade Commander in a press statement said the seven of the wounded persons were military personnel who were part of the team that provided security to the group.
The foreign visitors come from the IP communities in Vietnam, Myanmar, Indonesia and Malaysia went to Sitio Mintapod, Brgy Hagpa, Impasugong, Bukidnon to observe the activity of local IP community volunteers belonging to Higaonon Amamag Malandang Olandok Gagaw (HAMOG). a non-government organization which promotes cultural preservation in the area.
The group is also supposed to have a forest visitation for their “Paunlay Ta Aghimicu” (forest visitation phase II).
Hamog sought the assistance of the Impasugong IPMR and the Philippine Army for security during their activity.
“We thought a tire exploded, then we heard burst of fire, somebody shouted duck” a foreigner said. We were afraid but we are very thankful to Filipino soldiers for providing us protection.”
During the clearing operations, the military discovered 2 more anti-personnel mines that remained unexploded which was left by the NPA terrorist, which ould have injured the foreign observers.
The EOD and PNP SOCO are now recovering those AP mines to avoid harming civilians passing the area.
After the incident, the foreign delegation proceeded to Laguindingan Airport for their flight to their next destination.-jap/NewsLine.ph
