• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Mt. Cansermon Command New People’s Army South Central Negros Guerilla Front has issued a statement claiming responsibility for burning of two units of heavy equipment on June 14 in Sitio Bulod, Brgy. Carabalan, Himamaylan City, for failure of the owner to pay revolutionary taxes.
Rebel spokesperson Ka Dionesio Magbuelas claimed that owner of the ESJ construction firm ignored demands of revolutionary taxes, while operating in their so-called area. At the same time, he further claimed many complaints have been aired against the management for their failure to give their workers mandated salaries.
Estimated damage on the value of the burned heavy equipment was placed by authorities at P7.5 million.
The arson incident took place as the police reported that rebels killed the four members of a family in neighboring Brgy. Buenavista in Himamaylan City, a claim which was strongly debunked by the NPA, who have blamed it to the military.
Police records showed that rebels also burned a heavy equipment at the same place in September 2021.
The national government is presently engaged in a road concreting program that will link the hinterland barangays of Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, to Tayasan, Negros Oriental.*
