Military, Defense belittle communist rebels' apology over civilian deaths

THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) belittled an apology by the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, the New People's Army (NPA), to the families of two civilians who died in an explosion from one of its landmines in Masbate City last week.

Maj. Gen. Edgard Arevalo, AFP spokesman, described the CPP as being "complicit in the planning and directing" the explosion of an anti-personnel mine that claimed the lives of Far Eastern University (FEU) football player Keith Absalon and his cousin Nolven last Sunday.