By Bulatlat.com
MANILA — Operatives under the Comval Davao Gulf Sub Regional Command of the New People’s Army exploded a command-detonated bomb inside the headquarters of the 71st Infantry Battalion in Barangay Pangibiran, Mabini town of this province killing six AFP troops and wounding five others.
The bomb explosion last August 5 is reportedly meant to give justice to two victims of extra-judicial killings and to peasant victims of “AFP atrocities.” Before the bombing, the NPA reportedly arrested Private First Class Rodello Canada Arigonan (serial number 776045), a 1001st Brigade Headquarters utility personnel. The NPA reportedly captured Arigonan on August 3, at 11p.m., in the vicinity of the military headquarters at Barangay Mapaang, Maco town.
Daniel Ibarra, spokesperson of NPA’s Comval Davao Gulf Sub Regional Command, said in a statement that members of the Military Intelligence Battalion under the 101st Brigade-10th Infantry Division-AFP were responsible for the killing of Eddie Canon, a civilian and municipal coordinator of a progressive partylist group in Barangay San Isidro, Mawab town last May 25, and Ramil Lintas, a motorcycle driver of Barangay Calabcab, Maco town last July 25.
The NPA leader described as “ridiculous” the “repeated lies” of Maj. Jake Obligado, CMO Battalion chief, about the NPA blast allegedly violating the international humanitarian law.” Ibarra accused the AFP of perpetrating “the worst forms of violence in the countryside with its US-designed Oplan Bayanihan.”
According to Ibarra, the military’s “counter-revolutionary campaign” is forcing the evacuation and dislocation of peasants in favor of the interest of landgrabbers and big miners in Compostela Valley.
“Military units, like the children killer 71st IB, are responsible for the most despicable crimes against the people,” Ibarra said.
While keeping custody of Arigonan as their Prisoner of War, the NPA warned they will hold accountable “elements of the reactionary armed force who continue to abuse poor peasants and indigenous peoples in the countryside.” 
