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The Philippine Army in North Cotabato will file charges of violation of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Respect for Human Rights and the International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) against the New Peoples’ Army (NPA) for torching on Friday the heavy equipment of a private construction firm.

Lt. Manuel Gatus, chief of the civil military operations of the 57th Infantry Batallion said they would file the charges before the GRP-NDF peace panel.

 

“The arson the NPA did against the contractor was clear human rights violation.   They’re already into extortion, which is also a criminal offense,” said Gatus.

 

Extortion was likely the motive in the arson, according to City Mayor Rodolfo Gantuangco.

 

The owner of the torched vehicles, Ricardo dela Cruz Interior Construction Company (RDCICC), has refused to give in to the demands of the group, said the mayor.

 

Also, some of the construction workers who witnessed the torching at Barangay San Roque here said the armed men told them they want to punish the contractor.

 

On Friday, around 1030 a.m., six armed men, onboard three motorcycles, arrived at the quarry site at Barangay San Roque while the vehicles were loading sand and gravel and ordered drivers and workers to move out while they poured on the gasoline on each of the heavy equipment.

 

The suspects identified themselves as members of the NPA operating in North Cotabato province.

 

Minutes later, they exited towards La Esperanza in President Roxas, also a town in North Cotabato.

 

Inspector Rolando Dillera, deputy police director, estimated the damage at P7 million. The torched vehicles included three dump trucks, a pay loader, and a backhoe. — Malu Cadelina Manar /ELR, GMA News