AN OFFICIAL of the Army's 403rd Infantry Brigade said around 15 suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels around 10 p.m. Monday, March 20 burned the equipment of a pineapple plantation in Patpat village, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.
Captain Norman Tagros, 403rd Infantry Brigade civic military operations officer, said the NPA rebels torched three boom harvesters and one skidder owned by the Del Monte Philippines Inc.
Tagros said soldiers were conducting security and combat operations when the rebels burned the equipment some three kilometers away from the Sayre Highway.
"Nasa ibabaw ang tropa kay nag conduct og operation ug ang hitabo nasa ubos. (The soldiers were on patrol in the hinterlands when the incident below took place)," Tagros said.
The military official added that according to the witnesses in the area, the armed men suspected to be members of NPA arrived by foot and withdrew.
He said the burning incident was a form of diversionary tactic of the NPA rebels to draw attention of the military troops conducting military operations elsewhere.
Tagros added the 8th Infantry Battalion is taking charge of the pursuit operation.
Earlier that day, the military troops also encountered another group of suspected NPA combatants in Cabanglasan, Bukidnon.
Tagros said the firefight lasted about five minutes before the rebels withdrew from the area.
The military offical said no casualty was reported during the clash.
