Damage pegged at P10m: NPA bombs transloading station

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Suspected members of the New People’s Army bombed a transloading station of a sugar mill at Hacienda Ana in Brgy. Mabini of Escalante City, Negros Occidental, at 9:40 p.m. on Sunday, leaving an estimated damage of P10 million.

Senior Supt. Milko Lirazan, provincial police director, said the15 armed men barged into the transloading station of Lopez Sugar Milling Corp., disarmed the guards, planted improvised explosive devices to set fire on the facilities and equipment, including a core laboratory, a weighing scale platform, a crane and a hauler truck, among others.

The NPA rebels also carted away a 12-gauge shotgun with 20 rounds of ammunition and two handset radios, said Lirazan, adding that checkpoints have been intensified and both the police and the military are now in hot pursuit operations against the fleeing rebels.

Lieutenant Gen. John Bonafos, commander of the AFP Central Command, said: “The 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. ... these NPA rebels in Negros Occidental want to sow terror among the businessmen and residents; and at the same time make their presence felt in order to sabotage development in Negros Island.”

Major Gen. Aurelio Baladad, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division, condemned the bombing as a violation by the NPA of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law.

Colonel Jon Aying, commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade, said: “This is more of a terrorist attack. The attack is on private properties and not to overthrow the government.” The NPA, who staged the attack, “came back to show off,” he said while claiming that these rebels were based in Escalante. (FREEMAN)