NPA claims burning of heavy equipment in Negros city

From the Manila Bulletin (Jun 22, 2023): NPA claims burning of heavy equipment in Negros city (By GLAZYL MASCULINO)

BACOLOD CITY – The Mount Cansermon Command (MCC)-New People's Army (NPA)-South Central Negros Guerrilla Front has owned up the burning of two backhoes worth P7.5 million in Sitio Bulod, Barangay Carabalan, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental last week.

In a statement released to the media on Thursday, June 22, Ka Dionesio Magbuelas, spokesperson of MCC-NPA, said they sanctioned the construction firm after it allegedly failed to follow the rules of the revolutionary movement, particularly on land taxes covered by the group.

Magbuelas said the firm was first sanctioned in September 2021 for the same reason, and was given a chance to comply with their obligations, but they failed.

The rebel group also alleged that they have received complaints from people about the workers’ situation, including the low salary.

The burning incident happened on the night of June 14, wherein six unidentified persons arrived and told a watchman that the construction firm was allegedly not paying revolutionary taxes, according to the police.

Police said the firm is currently working on a P100-million road project dubbed Himamaylan-Tayasan Road in the area.

But the NPA said that this barangay development project aims to provide opportunities to big mining companies that plan to operate in the hinterlands of Cansermon, Tahod-Ilahas, Cambantog, and other neighboring areas.

The rebel group believed that this project will also affect the livelihood of the people and their lands.

https://mb.com.ph/2023/6/22/npa-claims-burning-of-heavy-equipment-in-negros-city