Communist rebels cut farmers' rubber trees in Surigao del Sur

MANILA, Philippines - Communist rebels in Surigao del Sur recently destroyed newly-planted rubber trees due to the refusal of farmers to yield to the insurgents’ extortion demands, the military said Thursday.

Cpt. Alberto Caber, spokesman of the Armed Forces Eastern Mindanao Command, said about 15 rebels uprooted around 7,000 seedlings owned by the Bacolod Upland Farmers Association last Monday.

The incident reportedly transpired at a rubber nursery in Sitio Cagburao, Barangay Bacolod in Cagwait town.

“The farmers and residents were mad at the attack of their source of living and requested responding troops to assist them in filing appropriate charges against the NPA (New People’s Army),” Caber said in a statement.

“They also requested for the continuous presence of government troops to protect their area from entry of the NPAs,” he added.

Caber claimed the amount of damage caused by the NPA attack has been pegged at about P1 million.

He said the rebels violated part 4, article 4, section 4 of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law, which prohibits the attacking of civilians and their properties.

“The NDF (National Democratic Front) must explain the NPA’s violation. They should indemnify the civilian victims,” Caber said.

NDF is the political arm of the communist movement while the NPA is its armed unit. - Alexis Romero

Caber said military field units have been tasked to ensure the safety of farmers and their crops. – Alexis Romero