Reds burn businessman's delivery trucks in Tubungan
For reportedly not heeding the demand for "revolutionary taxes," members of the communist News People's Army (NPA) burned two delivery trucks of a local businessman.
The incident occurred late Sunday night in Brgy. Balikwa, Tubungan, Iloilo, one of the known "Red areas" in Southern Iloilo.
In a report, The News Today (TNT) gathered that local NPAs here had since sent extortion letters to the victim identified by authorities as Maximo Tamisin. It was not immediately clear how much in damage was incurred yet local police with the 606th Provincial Mobile Group took over the investigation.
Albeit in Red Alert status over the weekend, town police failed to immediately respond including a sudden 'attack' in one hinterland barangay. Villagers including a barangay captain were reportedly held at gunpoint by the armed rebels.
Captain Lowen Gil Marquez, commanding officer of the Armed Forces of the Philippines' (AFP) 3rd Civil Relations Group identified the culprits as terrorist-rebels belonging to the Southern Front Committee of the Napoleon Tumagtang Command.
Marquez said the quick response of a joint team of the AFP and the local police averted more damage, as the NPA's original plan was to burn six trucks.
Marquez identified the rebels as led by Elver Buencuchillo and Nahum Camariosa, of the Napoleon Tumagtang Command.
After the incident, initial reports said that the suspects dropped by Tamisin's house and informed him what they had done.
They retreated towards Barangay Bakan, authorities said.
Marquez added that NPA rebels have diverted to economic sabotage after having failed to sow terror during their anniversary celebration over the weekend.
The NPA rebels has yet to send official statement to the media claiming responsibility to the incident.
(with a report from PNA)