Rebels strike again, burn pineapple firms’ heavy equipment

By BEN SERRANO
Correspondent

NEW People’s Army (NPA) rebels raided pineapple plantations in three barangays in Malaybalay City, burning heavy equipment, and destroying a truck by spraying it with automatic gunfire on Saturday.

Capt. Joe Patrick Martinez, spokesperson of the 4th Infantry Division, said a still undetermined number of NPA rebels carried out two separate attacks and destroyed heavy equipment owned by Del Monte Philippines Inc., Lapanday Pineapple Plantation Co., and Dole Philippines Inc..

The military said the first attack was staged at 1 am on Saturday when a “mega spray” truck of Dole Philippines was sprayed with gunfire at Sitio Upper Gabunan, Barangay Casisang, Malaybalay City.

An hour later, rebels attacked at Field 97, Zone 6, Barangay Impalambong, and burned two bulldozers of Del Monte Philippines Inc., Martinez said.

He said a third raid was staged in Sitio Hagwaon, Barangay Laguitas, Malaybalay City, where a boom spray owned by Lapanday Pineapple was set afire by rebels.

Martinez said NPA rebels in Bukidnon have long been trying to extort money from the companies in the guise of “revolutionary taxes.”

He said the companies were consistent in their refusal to accede to the NPA’s demands.

Troops from the army’s 403rd Brigade and 1st Special Forces Battalion were immediately fielded to go after the rebels.

Martinez said authorities have been coordinating  with the firms in order to press criminal charges against the rebels.

Col. Jesse Alvarez, commander of the 403rd Brigade, critized the NPA, saying its actions in Malaybalay on Saturday were proof that it “has now resorted to banditry,” and has lost its ideology.

“We are now tracking down these criminals, and we will ensure that they will answer for the crimes they have committed,” Alvarez said.