BACOLOD CITY –The New People’s Army (NPA) has claimed responsibility for the explosion that damaged equipment in a quarry site at Barangay Orong, Kabankalan City in Negros Occidental on November 26.
In a press statement dated November 28 and released to the local media here on Wednesday, the Armando Sumayang Jr. Command Southwest Negros Guerilla Front in Negros Island said the blast should serve as a warning to all operators conducting irresponsible quarry operations.
The Kabankalan City Police Station reported that on Sunday night, a blast from an improvised explosive damaged a backhoe owned by Hilamonan village councilor Raquel Siguero.
Eight suspected rebels were identified as the perpetrators, who also stole the cellular phones of the two caretakers.
Andrea Guerrero, spokesperson of Southwest Negros Guerilla Front, said that since 2014, they have identified 15 quarry operators in the area, of which three were allegedly involved in harassment, land grabbing, and threat against farmers in Barangay Orong.
Guerrero also said in the press statement that a fact-finding mission conducted by the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas Southern Negros in cooperation with Defend Patrimony-South discovered that quarry operators have no permits or have expired permits to operate. (PNA)
