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One Philippine militia volunteer was killed and another wounded in an explosion caused by a concealed grenade on the 46th anniversary of a communist insurgency.
Capt. Rey Balibagoso, army public affairs officer, told the state-run Philippine News Agency that the militiamen were on patrol Sunday in T'boli township, South Cotabato province, when they spotted a sack with New People's Army (NPA) anniversary greetings.
As they were checking the contents, the grenade exploded, killing one volunteer on the spot and severely wounding the other.
"The attack was not command-detonated, and could have easily victimized any individual or village official passing the public road," Balibagoso said, condemning how it occurred "even as the people of South Cotabato begin to commemorate the Holy Week this Palm Sunday."
He added, "the lawless armed elements always celebrate their anniversary with more killings and terror acts, as they measure success by the degree of suffering inflicted on our people."
The Philippines' military had declared a nationwide red alert covering this weekend due to the insurgency's 46th founding anniversary.
The NPA, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, has been waging an insurgency since 1969 that has left tens of thousands of people dead.
It reportedly has around 4,000 members in 69 of the country's 81 provinces.
Philippine authorities have tagged the rebels as notorious extortionists and blamed them for harassing banana, pineapple and rubber plantations, as well as poultry farms and mining outfits.
Peace talks between the NPA and the government collapsed in February 2013 due to rebel demands that detained comrades be freed.
www.aa.com.tr/en - Zamboanga
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