Sunday, January 06, 2008 Rebels raid piggery farm in Sto. Tomas
A GROUP of New People's Army (NPA) raided a piggery farm and disarmed the security guards in Barangay Katipunan, Sto. Tomas in Davao del Norte on Friday morning.
Reports reaching Sun.Star Davao showed that security guards Teofilo Tagaca and Felomino Rodrigo were inside their office when the rebels, onboard three motorcycles, arrived.
The rebels readily disarmed the guards of their M16 rifle and caliber .38 revolver. The raiders then fled thereafter. The guards were however able to identify one of the bikes with its plate number.
Police are now investigating who owns the said motorcycle. The Army's 72nd and 73rd infantry battalions, meanwhile, are conducting hot pursuit operation against the rebels as of this writing.
Sto. Tomas Police Chief Thor Valiente Cuyos said they also placed the two security guards under tactical interrogation to determine what really happened and if the two are culpable of any neglect.
The Army's 10th Infantry Division, in a statement, said it has been the modus operandi of he NPA to hit soft and undefended targets.
"We are anticipating that there will be more NPA atrocities similar to this. We have directed our field units to review the security arrangement with the different security agencies of farms, plantations and other business establishments," the statement added.
"It has always been emphasized to the owners of said establishments that they play a vital role in preventing the occurrence of these atrocities. The security effort of the military to protect or insulate the farm or plantation from NPA attack will become irrelevant without the active cooperation of the owners. (With Danjo Revilla)
