Vice President Leni Robredo on Wednesday denounced the landmine explosion in Masbate City that killed two cousins, noting that the use of force could never be justified by any ideology.
The Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed unit New People's Army took "full responsibility" for the incident that took the lives of Far Eastern University football player Kieth Absalon and union leader Nolven Absalon.
"Nakikiramay kami sa mga pamilya nina Kieth at Nolven. Kasama kami sa dalangin, paghahanap ng katarungan, at mithiing hindi na maulit pa ang ganitong walang-katuturang pagpatay. Anuman ang sanhi ng pagsabog, walang anumang aksidente sa usapin ng mga landmine," Robredo said in a statement.
The two were riding their bikes along Purok 4 in Barangay Anas on Sunday when an improvised bomb went off and killed them instantly. Nolven's 16-year-old son who was with them was also injured.
Such act of violence has long been regarded inhumane, Robredo said, citing the 1997 Ottawa Treaty that banned anti-personnel land mines. Landmines are murder, the Vice President said, condemning the incident "without qualification".
"No goal or ideology can justify the use of such devices. Paglabag ito sa batas, sa karapatang pantao, sa mga patakaran ng pakikidigma, at sa mismong pag-unawa natin sa mga hangganan ng kayang gawin ng tao sa kanyang kapwa," she said.
"Hindi ito pakikibaka; labas ito sa usapin ng paghahangad nating matigil ang hidwaan. Landmines are murder. We condemn this incident without qualification," she added.
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