NPA rebels torch, heavy equipment in Bukidnon

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 30): NPA rebels torch, heavy equipment in Bukidnon

Armed men believed to be members of the outlawed New People’s Army (NPA) burned heavy equipment in three separate attacks on pineapple companies in Bukidnon Saturday morning, the military said here.

Capt. Patrick Martinez, spokesperson of the army 4th Infantry Division (4ID), said that the rebels burned the heavy equipment of Del Monte, Phil., Inc. and Lapanday Pineapple Plantation Company, all in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon, Saturday morning.

Another group of NPA rebels also fired upon the “Mega Spary Truck” of Dole Philippines, Inc. at around 1 a.m. Saturday while another group burned two bulldozers owned by Del Monte, Phil., Inc. at 2:00 a.m. Saturday while the armed rebels also burned the “Boom Spray” owned by Lapanday Pineapple Plantation Company.

Martinez said that the NPA rebels, who have gone into banditry, have long been attempting to extort money as “revolutionary tax” from the multi-national companies, which the companies have refused to give-in.

He said that the 4ID had dispatched government troopers from the army 403rd Brigade based in Malaybalay City to pursue the suspects in coordination with the provincial police command in Bukidnon.

“With the help of the people of Bukidnon, we are now tracking down these criminals and will ensure that they will face the crimes they have committed,” Colonel Jesse A Alvarez, Commander of 403rd (Peacemaker) Brigade, said.

Alvarez said that government troopers also pre-empted the planned attack on the Mindanao Agri-Traders Inc. (MAI) at Brgy Soriano, Cabadbaran City, Agusan Del Norte.

In February last year, the NPA rebels attacked the Del Monte, Phil, Inc. main camp in Camp Philipps, Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, killing a company security guard and wounding another.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=852303