The New People’s Army (NPA) has owned responsibility for the burning of several pieces of heavy equipment at an agricultural farm in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental at 11pm on Sunday, March 8.
In a press statement dated March 9, Ka Dionesio Magbuelas, spokesperson of the Romeo Nanta Command of the NPA’s South Central Negros Guerrilla Front, said a tactical unit of the group carried out the attack at W.D. Anglo Agri Farm in Hacienda Baling, Barangay Libacao.
According to the statement, the group set fire to farm equipment that included three tractors, one crane, and one backhoe, which it said formed part of the farm’s logistical operations.
The rebel group said the action was a “sanction” against the farm’s owner, Wilfred D. Anglo, whom it accused of paying farm workers low wages and allegedly imposing exploitative labor conditions.
Initial investigation by the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) placed the estimated damage at around P7 million, although the rebel group claimed the losses could range between P30 million and P40 million.
The NPA also alleged that some workers have been burdened by loans with high interest.
It added that the action was meant to draw attention to what it described as the situation of agricultural workers in the sugarcane fields of Negros.
Negros Occidental remains among the areas affected by the decades-long insurgency, with some rebel actions targeting agricultural operations that they accuse of exploiting farm laborers.*
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, maintains a personal blog on Medium, and is the communications officer of Hope Builders Organization Negros Island.