Rebels bomb Negros sugar firm’s facilities

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines   â€“ At least 25 suspected New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas bombed the trans-loading station of a sugar company in Escalante City, Negros Occidental Sunday night, leaving more than P10 million worth of property damage, police reported yesterday.

The men disarmed the security guards of the trans-loading station of the Lopez Sugar Milling Corp. in Barangay Mabini at around 9:45 p.m., said Senior Superintendent Milko Lirazan, provincial police director.

Lirazan said the rebels planted improvised explosive devices and torched the facilities and equipment, including a core laboratory, a weighing scale platform, a crane and a hauler truck.

The rebels took a shotgun and two handset radios from the guards.

Lirazan said the management has yet to determine the amount of damage, although he estimated the losses at more than P10 million.

He said both the police and the Army pursued the rebels and beefed up the checkpoints.

Major General Aurelio Baladad, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division, condemned the attack, saying it violated the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL).

“The Army will continue to protect the citizens, particularly the civilians who have been victims of extortion and other lawless activities,” Baladad said, adding that the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ call for the rebels to lay down their arms and rejoin the government continues.

Col. Jon Aying, commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade, said the incident was a terrorist attack as it was committed against a private property. He said the rebels were based in Escalante.