Communist rebels attack food plant in Davao City

Photo courtesy of Rogelyn Batuampo
Photo courtesy of Rogelyn Batuampo

 

Communist rebels attacked the Lapanday Foods Corporation in Davao City Saturday, torching equipment and seizing firearms from the company’s security guards.

A statement from New People’s Army-Southern Mindanao Regional Operations Command spokesman Rigoberto Sanchez said the 1st

Pulang Bagani Battalion NPA-SMR “victoriously launched 3 simultaneous tactical offensives in Davao City against the Lorenzo-owned companies and ranch starting at around 2 am today.”

The rebels said they disarmed security guards at Lapanday’s 2 box plants in Barangay Mandug before setting fire to several equipment.

Pictures taken by Rogelyn Batuampo showed thick smoke coming from the Lapanday compound in Barangay Mandug.

The NPA also attacked the Macondray Plastic Plant in Barangay Bunawan and disarmed security guards.
The rebels also seized 3 high-powered firearms at the Lorenzo ranch in Barangay Pangyan, Calinan at past 3am.

Sanchez said the NPA attack “served as punitive action against the Lorenzos for their numerous crimes against agricultural workers, peasants and Lumad.”

The attack was carried out while the Philippines is hosting the 30th ASEAN Summit in Manila.

In an interview, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte confirmed that the attack was perpetrated by NPA rebels.

Asked if the attack is connected with the visit of Indonesian President Joko Widodo to the 30th ASEAN Summit, she said: “I am sure they planned it maybe in relation to that or in relation to Labor Day.”

She said she has given instructions to Task Force Davao and Davao City police to “do their jobs first…”

She later posted a photo of a fish vendor who was injured in a landmine blast during the NPA attack.

Supt. Jed Clamor of Police Regional 11 earlier said elements of Task Force Davao and the police were en route to the fire in Barangay Mandug when the landmine exploded, injuring a vendor.

“The attacks perpetrated by the New People’s Army today in Davao City are acts of terrorism. I take what happened today as a personal insult especially because the local government of Davao City has been supportive of the peace negotiations,” Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte said.

“We condemn these acts committed by a group that pretends to champion social justice and equality,” she added.

This story first appeared on ABS-CBN News and is re-published with permission



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