NPA rebels attack hacienda in Negros Occidental

MANILA, Philippines - Communist rebels raided on Sunday a sugarcane transloading area in Negros Occidental after its owner refused to yield to their extortion demands, the military said.

Lt. Cdr. Jim Alagao, spokesman of the Armed Forces Central Command, said members of the New People’s Army (NPA) bombed the transloading station at Hacienda Ana in Barangay Mabini, Escalante City at around 9:45 p.m.

The station, owned by the Lopez Sugar Milling Corp., was reportedly attacked by about 25 insurgents using improvised explosive device.

A transloading crane, a sugar cane testing machine and a gas dump were destroyed during the raid. A Fuso hauler truck was also damaged when it was fired upon by the NPA members.

Maj. Ray Tiongson, spokesman of the Army’s 3rd division, said the rebels also carted a 12-gauge shotgun with  20 rounds of ammunition and two handheld radios.

“These atrocities that these armed bandits are conducting deter economic development and deny the people of Negros the rights and opportunities for a decent way of life,” said Lt. Gen. John Bonafos, chief of the Armed Forces Central Command.

Maj. Gen. Aurelio Baladad, commander of the Army’s 3rd division, said the attack was a “gross violation of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law.

The agreement seeks to protect civilians from armed conflict and guarantees their right against economic and food blockades, indiscriminate bombings, shelling, strafing, gunfire and the use of landmines. – Alexis Romero with reports from Anna Bajo and Venice Amoroso