By Priam F. Nepomuceno
MANILA, July 19 (PNA) — A 21-year-old woman was hurt after New People’s Army (NPA) bandits detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) near the Mabini Police Station in Compostela Valley Saturday night.
The wounded civilian, who was hit by shrapnel, was identified as Ravelyn Ababa, a resident of Purok 2, Cadunan, Mabini.
Capt. Alberto Caber, Eastern Mindanao Command public affairs office chief, said the explosion took place at 8:20 p.m.
Ravelyn was rushed to Davao Regional Hospital for treatment by responding civilians and security forces in the area.
Civilians in the vicinity of the crime scene condemn the use of IEDs by the NPA bandits.
Moreover, they reported that a single motorcycle speed up away from the site of the incident.
PNP elements are conducting investigation while joint elements from 71st Infantry Battalion and Mabini PNP are on pursuit operations.
Caber said that the continuous manufacture and use of these IEDs are gross violations of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law. (PNA)