By PNA and U.S. News Agency / Asian

The continued use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) or landmines by the insurgents is a stumbling block to the peace process, according to Atty. Alberto Sipaco, director of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) in the Davao Region.

Sipaco said in coming up with a concrete and viable solution to attaining peace, the negotiating panels of the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) must agree to take away the stumbling blocks, one of which is the use of landmines which is regulated by international protocols.

He said landmines, regardless of how it is exploded may either maim or kill persons close to it.

“Use of landmines is illegal and must be condemned as it violates the international law like the Ottawa Convention on the use of concealed explosives,” he said.

Sipaco expressed alarm over the increasing use of landmines by the rebels in hitting government forces in Davao Region.

The latest incident of landmine explosion happened in Barangay Tibagon, Pantukan, Compostela Valley 11:50 a.m. Wednesday.