BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Victorias Milling Company has tightened its security following the discovery of Improvised Explosives Devices (IEDs), several hundred meters away from its distillery power plant in Brgy. Purisima, Manapla, Negros Occidental.
Two IEDs were discovered by security guard Jose Mario Doromay on February 26 at a sugarcane plantation about 500 meters away from the back of the distillery plant in Hacienda Candelaria, Brgy. Purisima, Manapla.
“We seek the cooperation of residents and our employees to be on alert for people who are seemingly planning to stir violence in the area,” VMC said in a statement it issued.
VMC earlier filed multiple charges against 21 residents of Manapla, Negros Occidental, allegedly for barricading themselves outside the perimeter gates of the VMC distillery plant in Brgy. Purisima, Manapla, to prevent the ingress and egress of trucks and tankers hauling raw materials on February 14.
Jose Ramon Eduardo Unson, head of the VMC Asset Protection and Safety Department, in his complaint affidavit filed before the Negros Occidental Prosecutor’s Office, alleged that the 21 respondents placed barbed wires and wood with protruding nails in the area.*