Col. Jemuel Siason, South Cotabato police director. (File photo courtesy of the provincial government)
The Philippine National Police (PNP) is preparing to file arson charges against the New People’s Army (NPA) rebels, who have been tagged behind the burning of three heavy equipment last week in a quarry site at the boundary of Tboli and Surallah towns in South Cotabato.
Col. Jemuel Siason, South Cotabato police director, said Monday said they already identified several persons of interest in connection with the incident and were beefing up the pieces of evidence based on statements from several witnesses.
Siason said the rebels involved in the attack operate under the NPA’s Guerilla Front 72, which operates in Tboli and the neighboring areas.
Four unidentified men armed with short firearms poured gasoline and burned three heavy equipment of Gemma Construction Company that were deployed at the Sinfed quarry site along the Allah River around 3 p.m. on June 15. The area is located at the boundary of Sitio Dahlia, Barangay Edwards in Tboli, and in Barangay Veterans, Surallah town.
Police initially eyed extortion as the motive for the NPA attack that destroyed several heavy equipment worth around PHP20 million.
Siason said they will also charge leaders of the NPA-Far South Mindanao Region (FSMR) after the group claimed responsibility for the attack.
A certain Ka Garry who claimed to be the rebels' spokesperson, said in an interview aired on Monday over Bombo Radyo in Koronadal City that the attack was a “punishment” for the company’s supposed involvement in "anti-people" activities, including mining.
“Since he already claimed it, we will include alias Garry and the rest of the members and officials of Front 72 and FSMR in the charge sheet. His admission will be among the basis for the filing of charges,” Siason said.
Siason said the NPA unit was misinformed, as Gemma Construction was not involved in mining and mainly into the construction business.
He added that the company has no ongoing infrastructure project in the area and was then hired by an agribusiness firm based in Surallah.
The official said the attack was clearly meant to disrupt peace and order as well as the development and growth of the affected localities.
Siason said it appears that the NPA is deliberately committing atrocities to "justify its relevance in the province amid the series of surrenders since last year of its members and supporters".
Since he assumed as South Cotabato police director in late November last year, Siason said a total of 206 NPA combatants and their allies have “returned to the folds of the law”.
Last week, he said 10 more NPA regulars surrendered in Lake Sebu town and another 28 in Tupi.
The returnees included around 50 unit commanders, vice commanders, finance officers, platoon leaders, medics, as well as “white area committee” organizers, he said.
“These only showed that the NPA was losing its regular cadres or members and the mass bases in the province as well,” Siason added.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1106605
Col. Jemuel Siason, South Cotabato police director, said Monday said they already identified several persons of interest in connection with the incident and were beefing up the pieces of evidence based on statements from several witnesses.
Siason said the rebels involved in the attack operate under the NPA’s Guerilla Front 72, which operates in Tboli and the neighboring areas.
Four unidentified men armed with short firearms poured gasoline and burned three heavy equipment of Gemma Construction Company that were deployed at the Sinfed quarry site along the Allah River around 3 p.m. on June 15. The area is located at the boundary of Sitio Dahlia, Barangay Edwards in Tboli, and in Barangay Veterans, Surallah town.
Police initially eyed extortion as the motive for the NPA attack that destroyed several heavy equipment worth around PHP20 million.
Siason said they will also charge leaders of the NPA-Far South Mindanao Region (FSMR) after the group claimed responsibility for the attack.
A certain Ka Garry who claimed to be the rebels' spokesperson, said in an interview aired on Monday over Bombo Radyo in Koronadal City that the attack was a “punishment” for the company’s supposed involvement in "anti-people" activities, including mining.
“Since he already claimed it, we will include alias Garry and the rest of the members and officials of Front 72 and FSMR in the charge sheet. His admission will be among the basis for the filing of charges,” Siason said.
Siason said the NPA unit was misinformed, as Gemma Construction was not involved in mining and mainly into the construction business.
He added that the company has no ongoing infrastructure project in the area and was then hired by an agribusiness firm based in Surallah.
The official said the attack was clearly meant to disrupt peace and order as well as the development and growth of the affected localities.
Siason said it appears that the NPA is deliberately committing atrocities to "justify its relevance in the province amid the series of surrenders since last year of its members and supporters".
Since he assumed as South Cotabato police director in late November last year, Siason said a total of 206 NPA combatants and their allies have “returned to the folds of the law”.
Last week, he said 10 more NPA regulars surrendered in Lake Sebu town and another 28 in Tupi.
The returnees included around 50 unit commanders, vice commanders, finance officers, platoon leaders, medics, as well as “white area committee” organizers, he said.
“These only showed that the NPA was losing its regular cadres or members and the mass bases in the province as well,” Siason added.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1106605
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