Military slams NPA on agri-plantation attacks in NorMin

From the Sun Star-Cagayan de Oro (Feb 6): Military slams NPA on agri-plantation attacks in NorMin

THE military condemned on Friday the series of attacks at agricultural plantation in the provinces of Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental that the New People’s Army owned up citing exploitation and displacement of farmers and indigenous peoples as justification of the torching of equipment owned by these multinational corporations and big companies.

Captain Joe Patrick Martinez, 4th Infantry Division (4ID) spokesperson, said the NPA rebels "gravely violated human rights by sabotaging the programs for the people."

Martinez said the recent burning down of heavy equipment of multinational corporations and big companies in Bukidnon and Misamiss Oriental are destroying the residents' sources of living and affecting local workers there.

The rebels torched the Del Monte Philippines Inc., (DMPI) heavy equipment worth P15 million in Balingasag town in Misamis Oriental on January 26.

And less than a week after the Misamis Oriental torching, another attack was conducted in Malaybalay City in Bukidnon province after the Maoist rebels burned two bulldozers owned by DMPI and a boom sprayer owned by Lapanday Pineapple Plantation Company and another attack that targeted the spray truck of Dole Philippines, Inc. on January 30.

This week the NPA attacked another boom spray anew, destroyed a banana plantation and a palletizing packing house.

"This is a clear grave violation of the Comprehensive Agreement on tje Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) which states that civilian population and their property should not be subjects of attacks," Martinez said.

The people should likewise be protected against arson, strafing, and other similar forms of destroying lives and property, Martinez added.

 While the military see the attacks as a form of extortion to generate funds, the NPA said in a statement that these companies are violating rights especially of the indigenous peoples.

"Ang ilang padayong ekspansyon, naga-pagpahimulos ug nag-daugdaug sa mga mag-uuma, Lumad ug mamumuo; ug pagpangguba sa kinaiyahan ang ilang mga operasyon," the NPA said.

For his part, 403rd commanding officer Colonel Jesse Alvarez, said the military will continue to facilitate, support, and promote peace.

"The AFP is facilitating, supporting, and promoting peace and development efforts of the government to conflict affected areas through Bayanihan, while the NPA is in the barangay forcibly taking away the food and other resources from the people and even destroying, impeding, and obstructing peace and development," Alvarez said.

"The NPA made our people hopeful through their false promises, while you’re Army and the whole government taught the people ways to realize their dreams," Alvarez added.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/local-news/2016/02/06/military-slams-npa-agri-plantation-attacks-normin-455899