Five suspected New People's Army rebels burned a Tanduay delivery truck in Vallehermoso, Negros Oriental, on Thursday, allegedly for refusal of the management to pay revolutionary taxes, the military said.

Second Lt. Jumrhic Obias, 11 th Infantry Battalion Civil Military Operations chief, yesterday said the delivery truck driven by Bryan Abrasaldo was waylaid by two unidentified rebels armed with 9mm and .45 caliber pistols, in front of a sari-sari store owned by Brgy. Capt. Venus Mahinay. The truck was brought to the boundary of Brgys. Tabon and Molobolo in Vallehermoso town.

Obias said the two suspects were joined by three others who came out from a sugarcane field, bringing two gallons of gasoline.

After freeing Abrasaldo and his companion unharmed, the five armed men poured gasoline to the delivery truck and set it on fire, he added.

The latest atrocity committed by the NPA came after they admitted being behind the assassination of PO3 Danilo Malones in Cauayan, Negros Occidental.

Obias said a bus company and private individuals also suffered a similar fate in the past, for their refusal to pay revolutionary taxes to the CPP-NPA-NDF.

Lt. Col. Franco Nemesio Gacal, 11 th IB commanding officer, said the incident only proved that the CPP-NPA propagates violence to instill fear among those who refuse to comply with their demands.*GPB

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