A SUGARCANE field and a truck owned by a barangay captain in Himamaylan City were set on fire by alleged members of the New People’s Army (NPA) Sunday.
Colonel Francisco Patrimonio, commanding officer of the 302nd Brigade of the Philippine Army which has jurisdiction over the area, said the 11th Infantry Battalion (IB) is already conducting pursuit operations against the culprits.
Initial spot report from the 11th IB said that around 6 a.m. Sunday, a 10-wheeler truck owned by barangay captain Romeo Titular was flagged down by more or less seven alleged communists terrorists; three of them wearing camouflaged uniforms and armed with high-powered firearms.
The incident happened at the sugar farm of Titular at Sitio Poblador, Barangay Carabalan, Himamaylan City.
Patrimonio said the suspects also set to fire the sugarcane plantation of Titular in the area, adding that as of Sunday, there is no estimate of the damage yet.
Patrimonio said NPA rebels are perpetuating these atrocities to impose forced taxation.
It is also their means to project that they are still around, he added.
