|
NPA
extortionists torch farm equipment, steal farm animals in SulKud
Camp Apolinario, Panacan, Davao City - New People's Army (NPA)
extortionists torched farm equipment and stole farm animals in a palm
oil plantation in Sitio (subvillage) Colon Barak in the village of Sucob
in Columbio town in Sultan Kudarat province 4:00 AM Friday.
Reports reaching authorities state that 30 armed men led by Johnny
Casamorin alias Lipid of the Main Regional Terrorist Unit of the NPA in
far south Mindanao was responsible in torching a backhoe and a muti-cab
in the plantation of a certain Mr. Johnson. The owner reportedly failed
to pay extortion demand by the NPA guised as "revolutionary tax".
According to witnesses, the bandits also took seven horses, five
chickens, five cooking pots, 10 sprayers, five bags and three cellphones.
The incident was deplored by authorities as another unlawful and immoral
act of the NPA. "This is another proof of the consistency of their
banditry and in making the people suffer. They completely coerce people
into paying extortion money and sabotage them if they fail to give in to
their unlawful demands. The only thing they are interested in is the
money they can steal from legitimate businessmen, small enterprises and
ordinary farmers. Stealing farm animals is by far the worst expression
of their banditry. The NPA has proven once again that they are the
biggest extortion syndicate in the country." Maj. Gen. Carlos Holganza,
Commander of the army's 10th Infantry Division said.
Barely a week ago, NPAs attacked a road project in Banay-banay town in
Davao Oriental after Maverick Construction Company refused to pay
extortion money.
A few months ago, several container vans of Stanfilco, a banana
subsidiary of Dolefil were also burned by local terrorists in Compostela
Valley Province. Trucks and vans of Maragusan Mayor Cesar Colina were
also torched a few months ago.
Last year, several farm trucks and construction equipment were burned by
NPA bandits in Davao del Norte and Davao Oriental provinces due to the
refusal of owners to give extortion money.
The NPA is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines and
has been figured out in many instances of burning of vehicles and
facilities to include buses, construction equipment, farm implements and
business structures of individuals and companies who failed to give
extortion money.
|
