Armed men raid Japanese firm’s warehouse

MANILA, Philippines - Unidentified armed men barged into a warehouse owned by a Japanese firm in Valencia City in Bukidnon and torched heavy equipment before fleeing with several firearms last Friday.

 Reports said around 10 to 15 men entered a banana processing warehouse of Sumifru in Barangay Barobo. 

The armed men reportedly held the warehouse security guards at gunpoint and took their firearms, cell phones and radios. They set a water tank, a back hoe and two packing machines on fire before fleeing, according to 1Lt. Norman Tagros, spokesman for the Army’s 8th Infantry Battalion.

At least P2 million worth of properties were destroyed in the attack, said Tagros, adding that “lawless elements” have been extorting from Sumifru.

“They even demanded that they be placed in the company’s payroll in exchange for their protection,” he said.

Authorities refused to confirm whether the raiders were New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas.

“There were no reported sightings of NPA rebels in the area recently,” said Lt. Col. Romulado Landingin, chief of the Army’s 18th IB.