NPA Rebs Burn Logging Truck Used by Illegal Loggers in Caraga Region

BUTUAN CITY- Suspected New People’s Army rebels burned a ten-wheelers logging truck allegedly used by ilelagl loggers operating in Caraga Region midnight Wednesday in Barangay Bayugan 3, Rosario, Agusan del Sur, police and military reports claimed.

Earlier, NPA Front Committee 14 spokesperson Ka Lalay reported that her comrades burned the ten-wheeler truck in Sitio Masabong around 11:20 p.m. August 13 in said barangay as punishment against illegal loggers operating in the hinterlands of Rosario town which is former concession area of wood paper firm PICOP who announced of closing shop last month.

But 4th ID Philippine Army spokesperson Major Michelle Anayron in a text message to this writer claimed they have not yet received such report.

Until this morning both the military and police offices confirmed the burning of the logging truck alleged committed by suspected NPA rebels due to non-payment of revolutionary tax.

The NPA spokesperson mentioned names of alleged illegal loggers which used the logging truck being punished by the communist rebels.

Ka Lalay said they have issued warnings against those who committed alleged illegal logging activities in the area including a stiff warning against owner of said logging truck named by Ka Lalay as certain Victoria Plaza .

“But they didn’t listen to our warnings’, Ka Lalay in a press statement said.

Trouble started in former PICOP timber concession areas with some incidents already caused bloodshed after different intruders started cutting trees of said huge timberlands left by the wood paper firm.

Some intruders have alleged backings of some alleged corrupt military and police officials and criminal armed groups which created difficulty in tracking poachers or thieves.

But authorities also accused the New People’s Army of rampant illegal logging activities in the area.

Caraga police said they are still investigating the incident.

NGO Caraga Watch in an earlier press statement alleged rampant illegal logging activities continue to destroy timberlands in Caraga Region despite changes at leadership at the local DENR office.

They claimed the monicker Caraga Region is timber corridor of the Philippines can no longer be applied and suggested it be change to “Caraga Region timberless or timber no more corridor of the Philippines”.