Rebels warn more attacks vs agri plantations

From the Sun Star-Cagayan de Oro (Feb 5): Rebels warn more attacks vs agri plantations

THE New People’s Army vowed to continue more attacks against multinational and big agricultural plantations as they keep expanding that result to violating the rights of people in areas where they are operating particularly the indigenous peoples.

In a statement, the NPA said it started its campaign since 2013 when rebels launched rounds of attacks against Del Monte in Manolo Fortich, Sumilao, including the Dole plantation in Bukidnon province.

In its recent attacks on February 1, the rebels torched a boom spray owned by Dole Skyland at Sitio Gabunan, Barangay Casisang, in Malaybalay City.

Another boom spray was burned the day after the incident in Barangay Casisang when a unit of the NPA rebels attacked a banana plantation in Barangay Barobo, still in Malaybalay City.

On the same day, a palletizing packing house of banana plantation was destroyed by the rebels at Barangay Adtuyon in Pangantucan town in Bukidnon.

The NPA belied the military’s statements saying that plantations bring development in a community.

“Kinsa may kontraktwal nga mamumuo ang molambo sa P70 nga kita sa us aka adlaw? Ang tinuod na naglambo mao ra ang tag-iya,” the statement reads.

Poverty undeniably increased, the NPA says, citing a report from the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR) where the province of Bukidnon recorded the highest number of poor families with 98,107.

According to the rebels, about 36,851 of these are IP families.

“Tin-aw kini na nagahulagway nga kung asa daghan ang plantasyon, naa didto ang kabus,” the statement adds.

The NPA also cited that occurrence of disasters are caused by these big plantations, illegal logging, mining, quarrying, among others.

Meanwhile, the military said they are conducting pursuit operation against the perpetrators and are in full alert for possible attacks.

Commander of 403rd Brigade Colonel Jesse Alvarez said the attacks are all because of extortion.

“We are now coordinating with the companies to file criminal charges against the rebels, we won’t let these criminal acts by the NPA force owners and management of businesses give in to their extortion,” Alvarez said.

The NPA is using extortion, Alvarez said, to generate campaign funds for the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and National Democratic Front (NDF).

“Let us not allow the NPA and other groups compromise ours and the future generation,” he added.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/local-news/2016/02/05/rebels-warn-more-attacks-vs-agri-plantations-455614