By: Becky D. de Asis
Malacañan condemned on Tuesday the explosion in Pantukan, Compostela
Valley that injured seven Army soldiers who were on patrol.
In a press briefing in Malacanang, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail
Valte said the explosion, that was caused by an improvised explosive
device, was a violation of “every rule in anybody’s book.”
“Alam niyo pag IED na ang pinag-usapan, that really violates every rule in
anybody’s book. Talagang nobody will come to your side and say that what
you did was justified,” Valte said.
She said that although the explosion set back the peace talks between the
government and communist rebels, “we will plow on.”
“These are incidents that make it difficult (on the peace process) but we
will plow on and we are waiting for the update on the condition of the
seven soldiers who were wounded. Hopefully nothing worse will happen,”
Valte said.
Lt. Gen. Ricardo Rainier Cruz III, chief of the Eastern Mindanao Command,
said in a press statement that the soldiers were on patrol in Sitio
Lantaan, Barangay Napnapan on Tuesday morning when members of the New
People's Army detonated an explosive device.
He added that two combat helicopters were immediately dispatched to
evacuate the wounded soldiers who were brought to the Camp Panacan Station
Hospital in Davao City.(with report by Becky D. de Asis w/ Sll.)
