Some of the small online magazines in Manila are covering it. This was part of coordinated NPA attacks trying to lure the army away from some comrads that were pinned down but it did not work. Most of the attacks were in NOcc but one was also nearby Guhulngan City. Really just hit and run.

 

For info, different date, did not know NPA were so active on Negros ..

Rebels have shown again their strategy in demanding forced taxation from the sugar farmers. A group of more or less 20 fully armed men with assorted firearms, have burned the farm tractor of a sugarcane planter in Northern Negros Occidental Tuesday night, 7:30 in the evening, June 14, 2011. Reports of Lt. Col. Eduardo Gubat, battalion commander, 62nd IB in Sagay City to Col Francisco Patrimonio, commanding officer,303rd Infantry Brigade stated that the perpetrators were believed to be members of the New People’s Army (NPA) under Northern Negros Front (NNF) the farm is owned by Arturo Ledesma at Hacienda Teresa, Brgy Alicante, EB Magalona. The alleged, motive of the incident was alleged non-payment of extortion money demanded by the rebels from Ledesma.

Said tractor costs half a million pesos, and the damage caused by burning is estimated at P60, 000.00. The Terrorists also took the M16 service firearm and bandolier of the security guard - Mr. Mario Lachica. Not contented by only burning the tractor, they also fired their firearms wounding Christopher Gerza, farm time keeper. They said the rebels boarded a Chevrolet truck in going to said area, and immediately withdrew towards Brgy. Cudangdang, EB Magalona using a multi-cab vehicle colored green and white after accomplishing their atrocity.

Then the elements of 6RPS Bn, and Provincial Mobile Group, with the troops of 62IB conducted pursuit operations against the fleeing CTs.

This is the second arson case of burning the farm tractor.committed by CPP-NPA-NDF in Northern Negros, for non-payment of extortion money. The first were the two (2) tractors owned by Jovie Gallo at Hda. Riverside, Brgy San Isidro also in EB Magalona, Negros Occidental last May 31, 2011 also for not paying the extortion demanded by the NPAs.

Lt Col Isabelo delos Reyes, in a press release said, the incident shows the anti-people motive of the CPP/NPA/NDF (CNN) in Negros Island that affected the living condition and safety of the community, and also affected the economy of the province in general. "These violent and criminal acts of the CPP/NPA/NDF (CNN) will be filed with our proper court through our local PNP for appropriate disposition of another arson case committed by the CPP/NPA/NDF (CNN) in Negros Occidental against our peace loving constituents.It is already within their system to destroy property and use force as well as sow fear to the people in pursuing their satanic intentions. No matter how the government does good for the people, the communist terrorists will always brand it negatively," delos Reyes pointed out.

Col Patrimonio said, the owner of Hda Teresa has refused to pay the extortion money to the NPA. He however advised all sugar planters or anyone not to give in to the demand of the rebels collecting the forced taxation. "Although it is a sacrifice, but once you start giving, it will never end anymore. Just report their atrocity so we can act accordingly. If no one is supporting them, they will just end up with nothing. In every atrocity committed by the communist terrorist, they do not only burden the owner, but most especially the farm workers and their families who depend for their livelihood in the farm of the landowner. It is definitely a violation of human rights which they claim they are advocates but actually violators.

"We just ask people to cooperate," Col Patrimonio stressed.

Rest assured your Philippine Army and our local police will bring these criminals & bandits before the bar of justice and that we will always be vigilant against these terrorist groups who sow fear and terror to our peace loving Negrenses."

In a related development, the undisclosed spokesperson of Ka Frank Fernandez issued a press statement that the Oplan Bayanihan of the military will never succeed in destroying the CPP-NPA because the AFP can no longer stop the march of the oppressed and exploited. They will continue to advance despite the complicated path, to complete the national democratic revolution, and establish socialist society for the Filipino people, the press release stated.