Armed men harass Japenese firm in Bukidnon

MANILA, Philippines - Unidentified armed men barged into a warehouse owned by a Japanese firm in Bukidnon, burning heavy equipment and seizing several firearms.

Belated Army reports show that around 10 to 15 men forcibly entered a banana processing warehouse of Sumifru in Barangay Barobo, Valencia City last Friday at around 10 p.m.

The armed men reportedly held the warehouse security guards at gunpoint and forcibly took their issued firearms, cell phones and radios. They then burned a water tank, a back hoe and two packing machines.

1st Lt. Norman Tagros, spokesman of the Army’s 8th battalion, said the security guards had also surrendered their firearms to the suspects, some of whom were wearing bonnets.

“Several firearms were carted by the perpetrators including three .38 calibre revolver pistols and one shotgun,” Tagros said.

The attack damaged about P2 million worth of properties.

Tagros said lawless elements in the area have been extorting money from Sumifru.

“They even demanded that they be placed in the company’s payroll in exchange for their protection,” he said.

Security forces, however, are not sure if members of the New People’s Army (NPA) are behind the attack.

“There were no reported sightings of NPA rebels along that area recently that is why we are looking into the possibility that these perpetrators are from a Lawless Armed Group plying in the area,” said Lt. Col. Romulado Landingin, chief of the Army’s 18th battalion.

Soldiers are now conducting pursuit operations against the armed men who staged the attack.