Reds burn equipment in Santa Catalina

From the Visayan Daily Star (Sep 19): Reds burn equipment in Santa Catalina
The Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade reported yesterday that the New People’s Army is continuing its rampage by burning three more heavy equipment Saturday in Brgy. Cawitan, Santa Catalina, Negros Oriental.

Testimonies of residents, Capt. Samuel Maglinao, acting Civil Military Operation officer of the 303rd Infantry Brigade, showed that the armed suspects, who introduced themselves as NPA members, poured gasoline and set fire on the heavy equipment owned by Nestor Lim of HN Trading that is engaged in a quarry business in Sitio Major Danao of the barangay.

Maglinao said members of the terrorist NPA organization also took two 21-plated batteries of the heavy equipment, two cellular phones, a big pack containing cash and personal belongings of quarry workers.

Lim told the 15th Infantry Battalion that two backhoes were destroyed while the payloader suffered damage.

In previous months, three heavy equipment, being used for a national road concreting project, were burned in separate incidents by New People’s Army rebels in Barangays Luyang and Bagtic in Mabinay town, Negros Oriental.

Estimated damage has been placed at P5.4 million.

Col. Alberto Desoyo, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, who condemned the latest NPA atrocities, said NPA rebels, who are members of the Sangay ng Partidong Platoon-South East Front (SPP-SEF) are terrorizing residents in the area, to make them give in to their extortion demands.

Desoyo is encouraging Negrenses to immediately report rebel extortion demands.

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2018/September/19/topstory10.htm