War on pork? NPA rebels kill 50 pigs

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines – As the controversy rages over the alleged misuse of the congressional pork barrel, members of the New People’s Army (NPA) killed more than 50 pigs and wounded 500 others at a farm in Libona, Bukidnon last Wednesday.

Capt. Christian Uy, spokesman for the Army’s 4th Infantry Division based here, yesterday said the NPA used guns in killing the hogs. Those wounded, meanwhile, were hacked with bolo knives.

A veterinarian has treated the wounded hogs, according to Uy.

The rebels also tried to burn the stockhouse of Mega Farm but only managed to set ablaze 20 bags of feeds and damage a forklift.

Uy added that the NPA rebels, numbering around 30 and not 150 as earlier reported, also took away three .38-caliber revolvers, a 9-mm pistol and a shotgun from the security guards of the farm owned by a Chinese businessman.

The farm owner, who said he did not receive any threat prior to the attack, declined to comment on the possible reason for the assault.

Uy, however, said the NPA may have wanted to collect “revolutionary tax” from the businessman.

He said pursuit operations are continuing against the rebels.

Threat to humanity

The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) yesterday said those responsible for the killing and wounding of over 500 hogs in Bukidnon have disturbed minds and should be considered a threat to humanity.

“No one with any empathy or understanding of pain would burn, bludgeon or hack pigs the way it is alleged that members of the NPA did. This merciless and callous action must deeply concern us all,” PETA Asia campaign manager Rochelle Regodon said in a statement.

She said animals should not be made to suffer and should not be caught in conflicts among men.

“Animals are not tools of war. Animals claim no nation and pose no threat to either side of a conflict. For animals, there is no Geneva Convention and no peace treaty – just our mercy,” she added.

PETA said living in a pig farm is already a sad and miserable existence for pigs because they have to endure being separated from their family, often castrated and having their tail cut off without painkillers. – With Evelyn Macairan