Suspected New People's Army rebels burned a sugarcane plantation of Calatrava Mayor Alfonso Baguio and San Carlos City Vice-Mayor Gerardo Valmayor in Sitio Danicup, Brgy. San Isidro, Calatrava, Friday, a day before the rebel group marked its 39th founding anniversary.

Senior Inspector Danilo Zuniega, Calatrava police chief, yesterday said at least five hectares of the plantation were burned, and estimate of damage has not been made yet.

Police tagged three alleged members of the Roselyn Jean Pelle Command, as the ones responsible for the burning of Baguio’s farms, and of Valmayor, who is the cousin of his wife.

The burning took place almost two weeks after rebels also burned the transloading stations of Victorias Milling Company and Lopez Sugar Corp. in Brgy. San Jose, Toboso, where damage was estimated by the police at P4.8 million.

The military, on the other hand, said the incident is believed to be in line with the series of arson activiities being perpetrated by rebels against private firms and individuals who are not supportive of their armed struggle.

The Roselyn Jean Pelle Command, which also claimed responsibility for the separate raids on police and Bantay Dagat outposts in Sagay and Toboso, issued a stern warning to landowners engaged in landgrabbing activities

The rebel group in northern Negros said they are open to dialogs with small planters who recognize the rebel movement, and are open-minded members of the military and police, as well as with militiamen.

The Pambansang Katipunan ng mga Magbubukid, a militant organization of the National Democratic Front, meanwhile, slammed the deployment of military personnel in Sagay City, that it claimed is being helped by the Marañon and Ching Ballesteros family.

The AFP and PNP in Negros island went on full alert Saturday, in anticipation of the NPA anniversary, which is usually celebrated by the rebel group by attacking isolated military and police outposts.

Senior Supt. Rosendo Franco, provincial police director, however, said there was no insurgency-related incident on March 29 and 30, but they will continue their vigilance.*GPB

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