Three suspected communist rebels on Tuesday were killed in a clash with government troops pursuing people behind the land mine blast in Masbate City that killed a university football player and his cousin on Sunday, police said. The bodies of three unidentified rebels were found at the clash site after the 15-minute firefight. Authorities believe a group of NPA rebels under Rosero’s leadership was responsible for planting and detonating the bomb along a village road where the Absalons were passing. In an earlier interview, Kieth’s relatives said they believed the NPA rebels mistook the cousins for soldiers. According to CHR spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia, the use of land mines goes against international humanitarian law (IHL), which limits the effects of armed conflict on people and property.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer June 08, 2021 21:00 UTC