• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
At least four heavy equipment were torched by unidentified armed men in Sitio Manghuya, Barangay Aya in La Libertad, Negros Oriental on Saturday.
Burned were two backhoes, a loader and a dump truck, but the estimated damage has not been determined yet.
Col. J-Jay Javines, civil-military operations chief of the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (ID), said they are still investigating the incident.
As this developed, the Philippine Army in Negros Oriental has assured the public it will continue to provide security during the May 12 elections even as it slowly transitions from internal security to external defense.
Col. Leroy Daanton, deputy commander of the 302nd Infantry Brigade based in Tanjay City, Negros Oriental, made the commitment during a peace covenant signing and interfaith prayer rally initiated by the Commission on Elections on Feb. 7.
Both Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental have been placed in a status of stable internal peace and security by the 3ID as concurred by their respective provincial peace and order councils.
Daanton said their units are still actively taking part in securing their areas of coverage against any kind of threat that would mar the elections.
During the Provincial Joint Security Control Center meeting on Feb. 8, Daanton said all guerilla fronts of the New People’s Army in Negros have already been dismantled, with active remnants under close monitoring. | GB with PNA reports
