Six
trucks of a banana firm in North Cotabato were torched by suspected New
People's Army (NPA) on Wednesday dawn in a remote village in Matalam, North Cotabato , authorities here said.
The
burning came after the owners of two companies, hauling company and the Sumifru
banana plantation, ignored mulcting activities of the communist rebels.
According
to Army Captain Antonio Bulao, Army's 602nd Infantry Brigade spokesperson based
in Carmen, North Cotabato , the NPA attacks
occurred at about 2:15 a.m. at the firm’s hub facility compound in Barangay
Bangbang, Matalam town.
The
Matalam police said about 20 heavily armed NPA stormed the compound, disarmed
its security guards and poured gasoline to the six parked heavy equipment then
set on fire.
The
gunmen then fled with the four security guards’ 12 gauge shot guns and
communication facilities.
Three
of the torched trucks were owned by GY Company, a hauling firm for Sumifru
banana plantation in Matalam-President Roxas municipalities, while the three
hauler trucks, locally known as “Iraqi trucks” by Sumifru.
The
banana firm had been receiving extortion demand from NPA’s Front 72 operating
in North Cotabato .
Various
multi-national firms operating in the province had been subjected to mulcting
activities by the NPAs, including Dole-Stanfilco, Sumifru Philippines
Sema
said companies that ignore NPA extortion activities have been subjected to
harassment.
Sumifru
Philippines Corporation is a joint venture with Japanese corporate giant
Sumitoro Corporation with banana plantations in the towns of Antipas, Magpet
and Makilala in North Cotabato.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.