New army chief plead for vigilance vs rebel group’s threats, extortion

MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon, Sept 29 (PIA) -- The new commander of the 403rd Infantry “Peacemaker” Brigade has appealed for vigilance and public cooperation against threats and extortion activities of rebels in Bukidnon.

Col. James V. Jacob reported in a Provincial Peace and Order Council Meeting that some 50 armed men of the New People’s Army (NPA) under Guerilla Front 53 flagged down and burned five prime mover trucks loaded with bananas at the national road in Barangay Puntian, Quezon in Bukidnon last June.

Two of the trucks were from the Red Bull Trucking Company while three were from the Sumifro Trucking.

Early this September, a Boom Spray Truck and Water Tanker Truck owned by Davao Agri Venture Corporation (Davco) were also burned by unidentified group at Barangay Mirangiran, Quezon, Bukidnon.

Jacob said these groups’ extortion activity is a big threat to the province where vast fruit and dairy farms flourish.

He said that the recent series of burning incidents in Quezon and Kitaotao towns along the Bukidnon-Davao highway perpetrated by armed rebels is very alarming.

“There is really a need for more vigilance among companies and business entities by providing us information regarding threats and extortion activities of these lawless groups,” he said.

He added it is also the responsibility of the constituents to cooperate with the police and military to ensure maximum security of people and their properties.

“I assure the citizenry that any report or information provided to us will be treated with utmost privacy and confidentiality in order to protect individuals and business interests. We have to join hands with the community and other stakeholders to achieve peace and development,” he said. (EOR/RLRB-PIA10 Bukidnon)
Source http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=1501348815873