NPA owns attacks on mining facilities in Mindanao
DIGOS CITY, Davao del Sur, Philippines – Communist rebels on Wednesday owned Monday’s near-simultaneous raids on two mining facilities in Kiblawan, Davao del Sur, and Columbio, Sultan Kudarat, but were mum about Tuesday’s attack in President Roxas town, North Cotabato, in which five rebels were killed.
In a statement, Dencio Madrigal, spokesperson of the New People’s Army’s Valentin Palamine Command, said the “tactical offensives” resulted in the burning of container vans being used as offices of the Sagittarius Mines Inc. in Kiblawan and the seizure of 13 firearms from guards of the South Davao Development Co. Inc.(SDDCI) in Columbio.
SMI is mainly owned by Indophil Resources and Xstrata while SDDCI is a company owned by the Consunji family.
“The punitive action is also a continuing enforcement of the policy of the People’s Democratic Government to defend national patrimony by opposing operations of foreign large-scale mining companies like Glencore Xtrata-SMI,” Madrigal said.
Senior Supt. Michael John Dubria, Davao del Sur police director, said the police have identified some suspects in the Kiblawan raid.
He said the suspects included former SMI employees Dot Capion, Tino Capion and San Miguel Capion.
“They connived with the NPA to harass SMI,” he said.
Dubria said arson charges were being prepared against the suspects, as of Wednesday.
Madrigal hinted that Monday’s raid against SMI and SDDCI was not the last.
He said the NPA tactical offensives “will continue” against mining firms with “environmentally destructive operations.”
The NPA, meanwhile, was silent on Tuesday’s clash in President Roxas town, North Cotabato.
The number of slain NPA rebels in the attack rose to five with the death of another rebel during pursuit operation conducted by the military.
Col. Nilo Vinluan, commander of the 57th Infantry Battalion, said pursuing soldiers clashed with the fleeing rebels in Barangay Bagumbayan in Magpet, also in North Cotabato.
Vinluan identified three of the slain rebels as Ronald Arnado, alias Commander Revo, an alias “Totoy Gamay,” and Ibot Gumay.
Senior Insp. Bernabe Rubio, police chief of Pres. Roxas, said the bravery of his men and prayers helped repel the rebels when they attacked the town’s police station early Tuesday.
Rubio described the clash ensuing from the NPA attack as so fierce “the gun bursts did not stop until the rebels had retreated.”
North Cotabato Governor Emmylou Mendoza condemned the NPA attack, calling it atrocious and an act of terror.
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