THE New People's Army (NPA) admitted they perpetrated the burning of a tractor in La Castellana, Negros Occidental on February 26.
In a press statement, JB Regalado, spokesperson of the NPA’s Leonardo Panaligan Command, said the burning of a tractor owned by Jorge Vargas in Barangay Sag-ang, came after they received complaints about abuse from the latter's workers.
Two weeks ago, four unidentified Cebuano-speaking men flagged down the tractor driven by Manuel Jamandre Jr., 60, of Barangay Robles, in the middle of a sugarcane plantation and torched it, damaging a portion of the vehicle and leaving an estimated damage of P20,000.
The perpetrators, armed with .45 caliber pistols and a KG9, fired twice and threw a grenade near the tractor. The driver was unharmed.
Regalado said the workers are not being well-compensated despite their hard work.
He also said the group tried to reach out to Vargas to settle the conflict between him and his workers but the latter was not receptive.
On February 22, the rebels also torched a sugarcane truck in Canlaon City, Negros Oriental.
Meanwhile, La Castellana Mayor Rhumyla Manguilimutan said insurgency in town is “not a major problem” authorities are helping each other to establish peace and order.
The mayor said the police continuously maintain their full alert status. (GYM)