Six suspected rebels carrying short firearms torched a tractor valued at P1 million at the sugarcane farm owned by the family of a Bacolod City councilor in Brgy. Cabacungan, La Castellana town, Negros Occidental, yesterday.

Bacolod Councilor Al Victor Espino, son of Delia Agustin-Espino, LN Agustin Farms president, said the suspects arrived at their farm in Hacienda Vicenta at about 6 a.m. and asked driver Hansel Carpio to alight from the tractor.

Carpio reported to the police that the suspects poured gasoline on the tractor and burned it then told him that they did it because the owners of the farm refused to pay revolutionary taxes.

The younger Espino told the DAILY STAR that they received extortion letters from the group introducing themselves as members of the Boy Gatmaytan Command in October, November and December last year, but they refused to give the rebels money.

Seven suspected rebels also torched a sugarcane plantation and a 10-wheeler cargo truck of Brgy. Capt. Gerardo Titular on Nov. 13 last year in Brgy. Carabalan, Himamaylan City.

The next day, two unidentified armed men also burned a cargo truck and a farm tractor in Brgy. Tapi, Kabankalan City. Damage was estimated by arson investigators at P300,000.

Col. Oscar Lactao, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, had earlier said that atrocities committed by the rebels should be condemned as they are blatant violations of human rights.

Lactao advised sugar farm owners to park their tractor and trucks near the police stations and army detachments.

He said he had not receive any complaints yet from businessmen and sugarcane farmers who are receiving extortion letters from the rebels.*APN

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