• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels set on fire three heavy equipment owned by a village official in Sitio Medel, Barangay Carabalan, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental on Friday night (July 4).
Initial police investigation showed a group of armed men were responsible for the damage of the backhoe and two 10-wheeler dump trucks owned by Carabalan village chief Mildred Titular.
The damage was estimated at P9 million, according to the Bureau of Fire and Protection.
A witness, who is the caretaker of heavy equipment, told the police that at least 10 persons, who claimed to be NPA members, were behind the arson incident.
The perpetrators, however, spared the caretaker from being harmed.
Lt. Col. Ziegfred Tayaban, commander of the Philippine Army’ 94th Infantry Battalion, said the rebel remnants perpetrated the arson as part of their punitive actions against those who refused to comply with their extortion activities.
Tayaban said the heavy equipment are being used in the transport of materials for the ongoing road concreting project that will connect Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental to Tayasan town in Negros Oriental.
Earlier, the NPA Romeo Nanta Command issued a statement claiming responsibility for the summary execution of Jesmer Pacunla at Sitio Kasipongan of the same village, accusing him of being an active military asset. | GB
