Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office director Senior Supt. Agusto Morales Marquez Jr. confirmed yesterday the withdrawal of a Korean investor from a venture at the Tamlang Valley because of atrocities allegedly committed by the New People’s Army.

Marquez, who did not name the foreign investor, however, said many farmers and their families have been benefited by the jatropha planting project, but have now lost livelihood opportunities because of the presence of rebels.

He said this is enough reason for the affected sector to blame the NPA for what had happened.

In December last year, a Korean firm signified its intent to embark on a large-scale bio-fuels project in Bais City, Negros Oriental by 2009.

The local government, however, cautioned about the proposal as it would entail vast tracts of land and the city might not be able to comply with the requirement, Bais Mayor Hector Villanueva said.

If the project pans out, he said, he would be coordinating with adjacent municipalities to provide the required 5,000 to 10,000 hectares of land for jatropha plantations.

Villanueva had earlier also said that they would need to study the project offer to ensure a steady market for jatropha.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had signed into law the Renewable Energy Act designed to make the Philippines 60 percent energy-self sufficient by 2010.

Villanueva had expressed hope that the proposed jatropha plantation in Bais would be viable and will not only respond to the country’s efforts to use clean energy, but also generate more jobs for residents.

Meanwhile, Marquez stressed that his office is verifying reports of NPA sightings in Cebu and Bohol. This could be part of deceptions being launched by the “enemy” in order to move around the province, he said.*JG

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