Senior Undersecretary Jose Faustino Jr. of the Department of National Defense (DND) defined the recent landmine blast in Northern Samar as an isolated incident and a violation of international humanitarian law on Wednesday.

The DND issued a statement condemning the Tuesday explosion in Mapanas, which seriously wounded seven soldiers, two of whom are in serious stated.

“This is a very isolated case and a clear violation of the International Humanitarian Law, more specifically, an incontrovertible violation of the Ottawa Convention, which bans and condemns the use of landmines,” Faustino stated “.

They will keep improving their anti-insurgency effort in order in small and isolated and poorer communities, according to Faustino, by supplying vital services to their communities.

“We will relentlessly support the whole-of-nation approach to the government’s counter-insurgency operations to address the root causes of the insurgency, and finally end the scourge wrought by these terrorists on the Filipino people,” he added

The 20th Infantry Battalion and the 63rd Infantry Battalion (63IB) were undertaking immersive experience exercises when the explosion happened at 6:15 a.m., according to the military.

The attack was blamed on the communist rebel group New People’s Army, according to the commanding officer of the Army’s 8th Infantry Division.

He also accused them of violating the law, which prohibits the use, stockpiling, manufacturing, and transmission of anti-personnel mines.