CAMP BANCASI, Butuan City – At least 15 suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels swooped down on a pineapple plantation of Del Monte Philippine Inc. and set ablaze its equipments in Patpat village, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon province.
According to Captain Norman Tagros, chief of Civil Military Operations (CMO) of the 403rd Infantry Brigade, the rebels burned down three boom harvesters and one skidder.
The rebels arrived on foot then immediately fled after their sinister activity which happened Monday morning.
Tagros said the burning incident was a form of diversionary tactic of the NPA rebels to draw attention of the military troops conducting military operations in Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental.
As of press time, combat maneuvering troops of the 8th Infantry Battalion are still conducting pursuit operations to those responsible in the burning of equipments, Capt. Tagros said.
Also on Monday, operating troops encountered another group of suspected NPA rebels in Cabanglasan, Bukidnon.
The 403rd CMO officer said the gunbattle lasted for almost 10 minutes before the rebels disengaged from the encounter. No casualty was reported on both sides during the firefight. (Mike U. Crismundo)
