MANILA, Philippines—An estimated 10,000 chickens were roasted alive on Friday after alleged communist insurgents torched the poultry farm of a businessman who had refused to pay extortion money in Zamboanga del Sur.
The military said in a statement on Saturday the attack was carried out by the New People’s Army (NPA) under the Mindanao Regional Party Committee, which had reportedly been demanding P60,000 monthly from farm owner Onyx Go.
The incident took place at 12:30 a.m. in Barangay Dalaon, Molave, Zamboanga del Sur, according to Capt. Alberto Caber, spokesperson of the Army’s 1st Infantry Division.
Caber said up to 10,000 chickens were housed in two farm buildings. Damage was placed at P3.5 million to P4 million.
A witness said seven armed rebels, including a woman, entered the compound at midnight, frisked the workers and confiscated their cell phones.
Some of the armed men poured gasoline which they then set ablaze.
Quoting Go, the military said the NPA had called the businessman by phone after the incident to warn him to pay up or his farm would be burned down again.
Caber said the area had been cleared of insurgents but lately “their extortionists” had returned to harass businessmen.