BACOLOD CITY — About 50 suspected communist rebels torched two tractors worth P1.4 million in a farm in EB Magalona town, Negros Occidental on Tuesday.
The employees of Hacienda Katrina in barangay Isidro told police that the armed men, who claimed to be members of the New People’s Army, entered the farm compound that was being leased by Jose Victor Gallo of Bacolod City.
The workers said the assailants were armed with Armalite and M-14 rifles and led by a certain Ka Atoy.
The group reportedly told the employees that the tractors—a Ford 6610 worth P500,000 and a Ford TW20 worth P900,000—were burned because the owner of the farm failed to pay revolutionary taxes.
When reached for comment, EB Magalona Mayor David Lacson said he would propose the reactivation of an Army detachment in barangay San Isidro, which is under the area of responsibility of the 602nd Infantry Battalion, to prevent future similar incidents. INQUIRER