NPA rebels attack Cojuangco farm
BACOLOD CITY – New People's Army (NPA) rebels attacked a farm owned by businessman Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco in Brgy. Suay, Himamaylan City early morning yesterday.
Lt. Col. Franco Nemesio Gacal, 11th Infantry Battalion commander, said there were around 25 rebels who entered the ECJ Farm about 12:45 in the morning then burned some farm equipment.
Gacal said upon entering the farm the rebels disarmed the five security guards then took the two shotguns being possessed by security guards Ruben Taboncoy and Larry Jun Castillo.
Authorities are still conducting an inventory of the damaged equipment and properties.
Gacal suspected that the group of Raniel Celon alyas Ka Kumpol under the Kilusang Larangan Central Negros was responsible for the attack.
The NPA, however, has yet to issue a statement claiming responsibility to the attack.
Meanwhile, police and military personnel have tightened the security at the Himamaylan PNP after reports came out that there was an attempt to rescue the five alleged NPA rebels currently detained in the said jail.
Gacal said they received reports last week of a vehicle making an apparent surveillance of the Himamaylan City Police Station, where the five are detained.
Detained Rene Boy and Junior Moreno, Ronilo Balisno, Ritchelyn Lozano, and a certain Budok Bilado are now facing charges for illegal possession of firearms and rebellion before the Himamaylan City Prosecutor's Office.
A .45 caliber pistol, a caliber .398 revolver, homemade shotgun, an ICOM VHR radio handset, a CPP-NPA red flag, were among the items recovered from the arrested persons.
There was also an assurance coming from Chief Insp. Regidor Alvarado, Himamaylan police chief, that a team of heavily-armed soldiers are jointly providing security to the detainees.