Rebels behind burning of van in Surigao del Sur?

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Suspected members of the communist New People’s Army burned a vehicle of a banana company in San Agustin, Surigao del Sur on Friday morning, February 1, a military official said. 

Col Romeo Gan, commanding officer of the 401st Brigade, said in a press statement that a container van owned by Dole and loaded with bananas was flagged down by at least 8 heavily armed guerrillas along Sitio Saungan, Bgy Salvacion at around 8:30 in the morning.

The rebels, believed to be from the Guerrilla Front 19A of Northeastern Mindanao Regional Command, immediately burned the container van, Gan said.

The driver and helper of the truck were not hurt in the incident, the military reported. 

Gan said troops from the 29^th Infantry Battalion were immediately deployed to conduct pursuit operations. 

Meanwhile, a member of the Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) was killed by suspected NPA fighters in Brgy. Sinubong, Veruela, Agusan del Sur on Wednesday evening, January 30.  

The casualty was identified as CAA Ruel Atipon who was inside his house during the incident. 

The military said a small NPA unit harassed a military patrol base prior to the killing of Atipon. 

“After the harassment, one gunshot was heard from outside the patrol base and was later found out to be inside the house of CAA Atipon in Purok 1A of the same barangay,” the military reported. – Rappler.com