[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]
[av_heading heading=’No evidence NPA behind equipment torching – Army’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY BOY RYAN ZABAL
[/av_heading]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=”]
Monday, May 8, 2017
[/av_textblock]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=”]
KALIBO, Aklan – The investigation into the burning of heavy equipment in Banga town remains inconclusive, military and police said.
The Philippine Army’s 12th Infantry Battalion (12IB) also stressed that they have not yet found any clear evidence showing that the New People’s Army (NPA) had a hand in the incident.
A certain “Ka Vencer” who identified himself as a spokesperson for the NPA’s “Panay Island Coronacion Chiva Waling Waling Command” claimed, via text messages, that they were responsible for the burning, said Lieutenant Colonel Antonio Tumnog, 12IB executive officer.
The “planned and intentional” torching of the vibrator roller and grader of the BSP and Company, Inc. happened on Banga-Libacao provincial road in Sitio Ilawod, Barangay Daguitan, Banga past midnight on May 2. No one was reported hurt.
“We verified … and found out there is no Ka Vencer in Central Panay,” said Tumnog. “Ang mga text messages niya ay hindi gawa ng aktibista, lalo pa ng isang Communist Party of the Philippines member.”
There were no revolutionary hate campaigns and NPA recruitment ads in the area, he said. “Marami tayong Army retirees sa Daguitan. Pati ang mga residents sa lugar, nagsasabi na hindi gawa ng NPA.”
But “we cannot discount the possibility of extortionists, disgruntled company workers and insurgents being behind it,” said Tumnog.
Tumnog asked the locals to help the authorities in identifying the perpetrators.
Investigators were pursuing three motives but refused to disclose them.
Scouring for evidence from the site, they found flammable liquid in a paint container, a plastic cup and pieces of firewood.
The perpetrators used motorcycles. They escaped toward the Daguitan bridge, several locals told the authorities. (With Aklan Forum Journal/PN)
[/av_textblock]
[/av_one_full]
