North Cotabato town exec saddened by ambush of govt troops

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 21): North Cotabato town exec saddened by ambush of govt troops

Makilala, North Cotabato --Mayor Rudy Caoagdan of this town Monday expressed sadness over the atrocities committed by New Peoples Army here.

The attacks by NPA in Makilala and in the town of Tulunan, both in North Cotabato, left nine government forces killed and six others wounded.

"This is too much to bear for our efforts to make Makilala a peaceful place to live when lawless elements are committing atrocities," he said, in reaction to the twin incident.

Makilala, home of various multi-national firms engaged in rubber and banana business, was among the areas of operation of the NPAs Front 73 and Front 74.

Before Monday's atrocities, the NPAs torched a rubber processing plant in Makilala, damaging about P20 million equipment and rendering about 700 workers jobless.

The NPAs also prey on bus firms plying the Davao-Cotabato highway for its failure to provide protection money.

Beside, the NPAs also torched several heavy equipment of several banana firms in the province.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=578504