Military pursuing rebel forces who attacked sugarcane plantation in Negros Oriental

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 9): Military pursuing rebel forces who attacked sugarcane plantation in Negros Oriental

Troopers of the Cebu City-based Central Command are now pursuing the New People's Army (NPA) band who harassed and attacked a sugarcane transloading area in Hacienda Ana, Barangay Mabini, Escalante City, Negros Oriental Sunday night.

The assault took place around 9:40 p.m., Central Command spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Jim Alagao said.

Destroyed were one transloading crane, one sugar cane testing machine and a gas dump.

The establishment was raided by the rebels for refusing to pay revolutionary taxes.

“These atrocities that these armed bandits are conducting deter economic development and deny the people of Negros the rights and opportunities for a decent way of life. We have declared the province of Negros Oriental as a ‘conflict-manageable and development-ready’ area last month and these NPA rebels in Negros Occidental want to sow terror among the businessmen and residents; and at the same time make their presence felt in order to sabotage development in Negros Island," Central Command head Lt. Gen. John S. Bonafos said.

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