NPA justifies burning of heavy equipment

From the Visayan Daily Star (Jun 23): NPA justifies burning of heavy equipment

The New People’s Army Mt. Cansermon Command justified the burning of heavy equipment in Mabinay, Negros Oriental, last month, by citing the failure of the construction firm to comply with the policies of the revolutionary movement.

Rebel spokesperson John Malaya, in a statement issued by the Mt. Cansermon Command, said the construction firm was ordered to stop their project, but it did not comply.

The three heavy equipment, that were being used for national road concreting project in Brgys. Luyang and Bagtic in Mabinay town, Negros Oriental, were torched by communist rebels on May 21, the military said.

The damage to the three heavy equipment, that included a steamroller, a backhoe and a bulldozer, has been estimated by the Mabinay police at P5.4 million.

Col. Alberto Desoyo, newly-installed commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade, said earlier that they will help secure government projects, especially in the hinterlands of Negros.

Authorities are looking at the possibility that the rebels burned the equipment in retaliation for the private construction firm’s failure to pay “revolutionary tax” to the NPA, after receiving a demand letter.

On the other hand, Malaya debunked military claims that they are recruiting minors to join the revolutionary movement, stressing that what they are recruiting are those 18 years old and above.

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2018/June/23/topstory8.htm