Suspected NPA rebels attack terminal, burn 8 buses in Batangas

From InterAksyon (Feb 16): Suspected NPA rebels attack terminal, burn 8 buses in Batangas

Fifteen fully-armed suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) on board two vans raided past midnight Saturday the terminal of Jam Liner, Inc. and burned eights buses in Barangay Palanas, Lemery, Batangas.

“Huwag kayong makialam, mga NPA kami, hindi kayo ang pakay namin kundi ang management [Don't interfere with us, we are NPAs, we are not after you but the management],” the employees of the bus company, quoting the rebels, told Lemery police investigator Police Officer 2 Richard Caragay.

Caragay said the rebels did not hurt anyone during the raid that happened at about 12:55 a.m.

While at the terminal, insurgents, who were in camouflage, pointed guns at the security guards from D-Black Pretorians Security Agency and disarmed them, according to Caragay.

"Lahat ng mga natutulog doon ay ginising. Pinalabas ang mga konduktor at drayber na natutulog sa mga bus. Pagkatapos ay binuhusan na nila ng gasolina ang mga bus at sinilaban [They woke up all who were sleeping they. They told all the drivers and conductors sleeping on the bus to get out. After that, they poured gasoline and burned the area],” said Caragay.

Caragay said authorities received reports that the insurgents threatened the management that they would burn their bus units if they continue to refuse paying “taxes” to the revolutionary movement.

Meanwhile, Provincial police director Senior Supt. Omega Jireh Fidel condemned the suepected rebels for also engaging in looting during the raid.

“Bukod sa nanunog na, nagnakaw pa sila [They also engaged in looting other than arson],” said Fidel.

He said the .38-caliber revolver and shotgun of security guards Welijado Banastao, 32, and Marlon Pineda, 27, were also taken away by the rebels.

“The rebels also stole a handheld radio, power supply of a desktop computer and the cellular phone of one of the security guards,” Fidel added.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/80851/suspected-npa-rebels-attack-terminal-burn-8-buses-in-batangas