By NITZ ARANCON
Correspondent
SUSPECTED New People’s Army rebels set afire a sprayer truck of the multinational firm Dole Philippines in Sitio Coli, Barangay Lilingayon in Valencia City at around 3 am yesterday.
Supt. Surki Sereñas, Camp Alagar spokesman, said the rebels hurt no one but the truck is now beyond repair.
He said the Valencia police has started an investigation in an effort to identify the suspected rebels behind the arson.
Col. Edgardo de Leon, commander of the Army’s 403rd Brigade, said at least 30 heavily armed rebels took part in the truck burning.
De Leon said rebels spared the truck driver and a company guard.
“Gi-imbargo lang sa mga suspect ang ilang cellphones ug gipadagan palayo sa ilang truck,” de Leon said.
The military fielded troops from the 1st Special Battalion of the 403rd Brigade in response to the truck burning but the soldiers came too late.
“Wala na nila masapon ang mga rebilde. Ang ilang na-abtan sa maong lugar ang na-ugdaw na nga truck sa Dole,” said de Leon.
He said the truck was sent there to spray on a pineapple plantation when the vehicle was flagged down by rebels.
Police said the rebel group behind the burning split into two as they left the area where the truck was set afire — one escaped towards the Manulapi River while another fled towards Barangay Tugaya in Valencia.
De Leon criticized the NPA and called on rebel leaders to explain why they had to burn a truck owned by a company that has nothing to do with the decades old conflict.
“Private vehicle man to, dili man to military truck, apan unsa man rason sa NPA nga ila kining gisunog?” de Leon asked rhetorically.
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