DAVAO CITY, Philippines — In a daring dawn raid today, the New People’s Army confiscated firearms and burned several equipment inside two factories and a ranch owned by the Lapanday Foods Corporation.
In a statement, Rigoberto Sanchez, spokesperson of the NPA Southern Mindanao Operations Command, said the guerrilla fighters under the 1st Pulang Bagani Battalion launched three simultaneous tactical offensives in Davao City against the LFC starting at around 2am on April 29.
“The PBB’s coordinated tactical offensives served as punitive action against the Lorenzos for their numerous crimes against agricutural workers, peasants and Lumad,” Sanchez said.
LFC’s box and plastic plant is located in Barangay Mandug and the NPAs disarmed the company guards and seized firearms.
In a radio interview, one of the guards said they saw a man wearing a shirt of the National Bureau of Investigation and several armed men forcibly opened the gate and assaulted the factory.
The guard who requested anonimity said the incident in Barangay Mandug took place at around 3:45 am.
“Pag-abot diha, gipangtapok mi didto unya gipahapa mi (They asked us to drop to the ground),” he said.
“Ingon nila sa amo, hapa ug iduko inyong ulo para dili madisgrasya (They ordered us to drop down and duck your heads so you will not be harmed),” the guard told the radio reporter.
He also said they were asked to cover their ears because there will be a very loud explosion.
The guard said more than 50 armed men attacked the plant and burned several equipment.
Another NPA “assault unit” attacked the Lorenzo-owned Macondray Plastic Plant in Barangay Bunawan here.
The NPAs also seized three high-powered firearms inside the LFC’s Lorenzo ranch in Barangay Pangyan, Calinan district. (davaotoday.com)
