MANILA, Philippines - Suspected New People's Army (NPA) rebels killed five people during a raid in an "agro-forestry" corporation in Esperanza, Agusan del Sur on Tuesday morning.
Authorities have yet to disclose the names of the victims, including a pastor.
Lt.Col. Leo Bongosia, spokesperson of the Philippine Army's 4th Infantry Division, said that two truckloads of NPA rebels raided the Shennalyne Corporation in Sitio Kamarangan, Barangay Milagros at around 9:30 a.m.
Bongosia said that the rebels fired at the people within the corporation's compound and then torched at least five heavy equipment, including two tractors.
Brig. Gen. Ricardo Visaya, 4th ID commander, branded the attack as "terroristic" and "barbaric."
“We will not allow incidents like this hinder peace and development in our area, collaboration between local government units, government agencies, non-government organizations and other stakeholders is the best resolution to these unproductive and inhumane atrocities by the New People’s Army rebels...communities should realize by now that they should end supporting this rebel groups," Visaya said.
Shennalyne Corporation is a non-government organization and private venture that grows Acacial-Mangium tress, a project that benefited at least two hundred Higaonons in the area.