NPA claims burning P16.6-M worth of heavy equipment

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

 

BACOLOD City – The New People’s Army (NPA) Roselyn Jean Pelle Command (RJPC) in northern Negros Occidental owned up to the burning of heavy equipment worth P16.6 million at Barangay Consing, E.B. Magalona last Tuesday.

In a statement, the rebel group said that they burned down the heavy equipment allegedly operated by Silay City Mayor Mark Andrew Golez in Hacienda Vista Alegre, Barangay E. Lopez, Silay City, in response to the people’s clamor to punish large-scale quarrying operations which recently caused massive flooding in the area.

“The sanction was carried out by the RJPC and paralyzed three backhoes at the Malogo river quarry site,” according to the group, adding that Malogo is a major tributary which runs through several haciendas and agricultural areas in Silay City, E.B. Magalona town and in Victorias City, where the river connects to the Guimaras strait.

The group recalled that thousands of families in northern Negros were affected by massive flooding on New Year’s Day.

The rebel group said that non-stop quarrying operations and so-called development projects at the Malogo river and other major tributaries such as the Sicaba, Himoga-an, and Danao rivers, and minor streams in north Negros have caused much damage to the environment.

The destruction brought about by the excavation of rocks, gravel and sand from these rivers has altered the natural terrain and made the area vulnerable to natural calamities and the inundation of residential areas and farmlands, the statement added.

On April 13, unidentified armed men set up an NPA checkpoint more than a kilometer away from Barangay Consing and burned three backhoes. It was first reported at Barangay E. Lopez, but when personnel of Silay City Police Station responded, it was found out that the incident happened in the area of E.B. Magalona town.

In response, Golez, denied running a quarry operation registered under his name, reiterated he has no quarry in the city or elsewhere in the province, and also doesn’t even have equipment related to the said operation.

“Puros kabutigan ang gina-palapta nga mga impormasyon sang sini nga grupo batok sa akon. Wala man sang kamatuoran nga ako ang tag-iya sang mga backhoes nga ginpang sunog kay wala ako nagapanag-iya sang ano man nga mga kagamitan natuhoy sa pag-operate sang quarry,” Golez said.

Golez said that the backhoes destroyed had permits and licenses.

The mayor condemned the violent acts from groups that are into illegal activities, including the recent burning incident in E.B. Magalona town.