Suspected NPA rebels set banana truck on fire in North Cotabato

KIDAPAWAN CITY, North Cotabato — Suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels set on fire a truck loaded with tons of bananas in Makilala, North Cotabato on Monday evening.

Caesar Bangot, village chair of Batasan in Makilala, said at least 10 rebels flagged down the primemover along the national highway and ordered the driver and his companion to abandon the vehicle.

The rebels then poured gasoline onto the vehicle and set it on fire, Bangot told reporters here.

The primemover is owned by the Paglas family and was hired by a banana firm to transport bananas from Datu Paglas in Maguindanao province to Davao City.

Bangot has admitted that the adjacent villages of Batasan and Malasila are areas where the rebels move in and out.

The NPA has not issued a statement if indeed it was behind the burning of the truck.  SFM/rga