Rebels attack Bukidnon farm

From Sun Star-Cagayan de Oro (Jul 24, 2019): Rebels attack Bukidnon farm

ANOTHER farm equipment was burned by suspected communist rebels in Sitio Carmen, Butong in Quezon, Bukidnon, over the weekend, the military said.

In a statement, the Army's 88th Infantry Battalion said around six armed men who allegedly identified themselves as members of the New People's Army (NPA) razed a tractor owned by Davao Agriculture Venture Company Inc. (Davco) that was used in the pineapple plantation.

The military said the company's two security guards were not able to react after the suspects, believed to be members of Guerilla Front 6, disarmed them.

After the incident, an emergency meeting was held at the Multipurpose building of the 88IB, which was participated by officials of the town, police, and company representatives.

Based on the meeting, the Quezon police were tasked to conduct an investigation and will submit a report to the Commission on Human Rights (CHR)-Northern Mindanao.

Authorities will ask the CHR-Northern Mindanao to probe the incident and determine if the actions of the NPA violates the International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and other Crimes Against Humanity (RA 9851).

The local government will also organize a monitoring team to look into the violation under the IHL that fits to be filed against the NPA.

Lieutenant Colonel Franklin Fabic, 88IB commander, has denounced the atrocities allegedly perpetrated by the Maoist Guerillas.

"Innocent civilians may have lost their job because of this incident," Fabic said.

"This is the second time they burned the equipment of Davco in Quezon. It can be recalled that they also burned the company's two sprayer trucks and three dump trucks last October 8, 2017 at the adjacent barangay," he added.

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1815743