NPA bandits employ bio-terrorism in attacks

DAVAO CITY--The NPA bandits have employed bioterrorism in its attacks against military and civilian targets, latest military records show.

Dr. Victor Dato, an Orthopaedic surgeon assigned at the military hospital in Camp Panacan here, said that his team of doctors had discovered the bacteria named Enterobacter Cloacae and Streptococcus Agalacteiae from the shrapnels that were extracted from the wounds of the seven injured soldiers who were bombed by the NPA bandits in the most recent attack in Compostela Valley two days ago.

Dato said that the bacteria is commonly found in the human intestine. 

He said that the shrapnel used by the NPA on their bombs were intentionally contaminated with bacteria in order to further improve its lethality.

He likewise revealed that he had treated a former NPA member who narrated that the bandit group had been putting bacteria on the shrapnel materials that they used in fabricating improvised bombs.

“Even more daunting is how one of the patients yesterday, who was seemingly stable all of a sudden entered a state of shock. We found his leg to be in a severe state of infection, with blackening flesh. A similar pattern was exhibited by another landmine victim who died recently, whose flesh quickly deteriorated and blackened despite heavy antibiotic treatment” Dato said, adding that,"This effect is no longer a result of the fecal bacteria, but possibly a deadlier venom ingredient."

It can be recalled that a civilian farmer named Hector Lalaguna was killed while two others were injured in a landmine blast during the NPA attack on a business establishment, the Standard Rubber Development Corporation processing plant in Makilala, North Cotabato, whose owners refused to pay extortion money.

The NPA bandits have posted a record-high 21 landmine attacks in 2013 alone. 

Violations to the agreement

The use of landmines is prohibited under Part III, Article 2, Section 15 of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Respect of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) that was signed by both the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines. 

Attacking civilian targets are also prohibited in the International Humanitarian Law. It is also punishable under Republic Act 9851, a local law that criminalizes violations to the laws of armed conflict.

The use of bacteria in warfare is considered as bioterrorism. It can range to simple hoaxes or the use of any organisms (bacteria, viruses or fungi) that are found in nature that can be used to kill or harm people.

The most recent international incident involving the alleged use of biological weapons happened in Syria on August 21, 2013 during which hundreds of people were killed including women and children.

The use of biological warfare can be traced to the battles during the ancient times. 

For example, the Scythian archers, dipped their arrows in decomposing bodies or in blood mixed with animal or human excreta.