Sunday, October 05, 2008 Army hits NPA atrocities in Davao
THE Philippine Army on Saturday denounced last week's atrocity by communist New People's Army (NPA) rebels who burned several heavy equipment owned by a logging firm in Bagangga, Davao Oriental.
About 20 rebels burned four dump trucks and a backhoe of the Matugunia Logging Company at Sitio Cabuyao in Barangay Binondo on September 26 after the firm refused to give in to the extortion demands of the insurgents.
"This extortion activity of the communist group has been ongoing for decades," said Army spokesman Romeo Brawner.
"It has definitely become the biggest threats that hinder the country's development and this must be stopped. These people are obviously doing it to continuously wage revolutions, which in no means, could help our country especially in these trying times," he added.
Almost simultaneously, the rebels belonging to the Sentro De Grabidad 15, Guerilla Front 15, Southern Mindanao Regional Committee also burned three bulldozers and two dump trucks of the same logging firm at Sitio Luyon also in Barangay Binondo.
"They (executives of the logging firm) allegedly did not pay the demanded revolutionary tax (by the rebels)," said Brawner, referring to what prompted the attack. He said the Army has instituted measures to prevent similar rebel attacks.
The military is in the middle of a campaign to defeat the communist movement, which has over 5,000 fighters.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to end the insurgency problem on or before 2010 when she finishes her term. (VR/Sunnex)
