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Friday, August 01, 2008
NPA rebels attack farm in Davao
DAVAO CITY -- Suspected members of the New People's Army (NPA) attacked a farm in Tigatto, Buhangin District in Davao City Wednesday night, military said Thursday.
According to reports from the Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom), the attackers belong to the NPA's Pulang Bagani Command 1 under Leoncio Pitao alias Kumander Parago.
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The military said the attackers burned four dump trucks and two heavy equipment. They then disarmed the security guard of the banana farm.
EastMinCom reports said that around 6:15 p.m., at least 50 heavily armed NPA men onboard an L-300 and Starex vans attacked the farm of Nonong Rodriguez. They were led by Kumander Bungot.
The farm's security guards reportedly tried to drive back the rebels but they were overpowered.
The .9mm gun of one of the security guards, Antonio Espinas, was taken while another guard was divested of his shotgun.
The group also carted away the cellular phone of the unarmed guard.
The rebels destroyed the door of the Rodriguez's residence and tried to barge inside. Two of the security guards were held hostage as they retreated. The two were released later.
The Starex van with plate number LWW 201 fled towards the direction of Callawa while the L-300 van, with plate number LCV 581, stopped in front of the Lapanday airstrip hangar.
The armed group open fired at the airstrip hangar in Lapanday.
The rebels abandoned the van on Km. 13 in Mandug and boarded a yellow public utility jeepney (PUJ).
The group also abandoned the PUJ at the Mandug barangay hall and boarded a Toyota Prado that sped towards Callawa. The vehicle was found on Km. 15.
The attackers were believed to have fled on foot towards the hinterlands of Callawa.
A pair of rubber slippers found inside the Toyota Prado was believed to be owned by one of the suspects.
The NPA rebels also wrecked havoc at Cabaguio Farm in sitio Fatima, Barangay Mandug, burning four dump trucks and two backhoe heavy equipment owned by Ruben Quigue, a resident of Flores Village in Bangkal, Davao City.
Investigation conducted by the Buhangin police showed that the L-300 van was owned and driven by Charlie Cortez while the Starex van was under the name of Benito Sabido.
The two vehicles were reportedly rented earlier in the morning by Danilo Burlat, a resident of Davao Empress, Panacan for a trip to Pindasan, Davao Oriental. The owners and the renter agreed to meet at Victoria Plaza in Bajada.
Upon reaching the place, a man and a woman ordered the vehicles to be brought to Acacia, Buhangin where a group of armed men wearing fatigue uniforms were waiting.
The vehicles used by the group in their attack are now under the custody of the authorities.
Police and military authorities are hunting down the suspects as of this writing Thursday.
Wednesday's attack is the latest in the series of attacks perpetrated by communist rebels in the city that is slowly getting nearer the downtown area.
Several weeks ago, rebels also raided a firm in Bunawan district. (BOT/RCO/Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro. (August 1, 2008 issue)
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