NPAs torch coco plantation project in Aurora

BONGABON, Nueva Ecija, Philippines – A 20-man band of the communist New People’s Army invaded on Thursday night the 100-hectare coconut plantation project of Sen. Edgardo Angara and Gov. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo in the outskirts of Dinalungan, Aurora, then destroyed equipment and burned facilities, the Army reported yesterday.

Brig. Gen. Emmanuel Bautista, commander of the 702nd Infantry Brigade, said that the incident took place at around 6:30 p.m. in Barangay Dibaraybay, Dinalungan in northern Aurora.

The rebels, led by a certain Jericho and a Jab, stormed the compound of the Philippine Coconut Authority and torched the watch tower, kiosk, garage, farm tractor and shredding machine among other facilities. The rebels also destroyed young coconut seedlings.

The 100-hectare coconut plantation was established last year by Sen. Angara and Gov. Angara to serve as breeding ground of coconuts in Northern Luzon and to improve the plight of local coconut farmers.

The incident came a week after 16 communist rebels were presented to Gov. Angara-Castillo at the Capitol where military officials vowed to make the province insurgent-free by 2010.

Bautista condemned the incident, saying it proved the terrorist nature of the CPP/NPA. “They continue to espouse violent activities in order to advance their goals. They are anti-people and will sabotage efforts of the government to uplift the living conditions of the poor people in the countryside. These are clear acts of banditry,” he said.

Maj. Carmelito Pagatungan, information officer of the 702nd IB based here, called on all peace-loving Aurorans to condemn these atrocities and help efforts of the government to rid the Province of Aurora of communist terrorists.