UNITS OF THE New People’s Army (NPA) in Bulacan and Mindoro Oriental launched two consecutive military actions on February 25 at 26 wherein 16 firearms were consfiscated and the destructive operation of a notorious company was paralyzed.

Bu­lacan. The NPA-Bulacan successfully raided the office and detachment of the Seraph Security Agency (SSA) in Barangay San Isidro, San Jose Del Monte City, Bulacan on February 25, 7:14-9:00 p.m. Seized during the attack were 12 high-powered rifles, two pistols, ammunition and seven Icom radios.

SSA has around 40 armed security guards and goons hired as mercenaries of Ayala Lands and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). These institutions are notorious for grabbing about 700 hectares of land from farmers, Dumagats and Remontados. Ka Jose Del Pilar of the NPA-Bulacan, said that these mercenaries are used to terrorize and force residents to sell their lands at extremely low rates to Ayala Lands and BSP. This has resulted in the eviction of about 200 families from the said barangay.

Oriental Mindoro. The NPA-Mindoro launched a punitive action against Sta. Clara Power Corporation (SCPC), a destructive mining and energy corporation in Barangay Malvar, Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, on February 26, at around 3 p.m. The NPA paralyzed the batching plant and 44 heavy equipment of the company including a backhoe, five trucks, two payloaders, a crusher and a cement mixer. The Red fighters were also able to confiscate a 9mm pistol, a shotgun and eight Icom radios.

Ka Madaay Gasic, NPA-Mindoro spokesperson, said that the action is a response to the Mindoreños’ cry for justice over the unparalleled damages caused by SCPC’s multimillion-peso hydroelectric power project in Naujan and Baco, Oriental Mindoro. When and after Typhoon “Nona” hit the province in 2015, about 3/4 of the province’s population was affected by massive mudfloods due to the continuous underground blasting and logging operations of the SCPC in the mountains. The mudfloods claimed more than 10 lives, and destroyed P1.5 billion-worth of infrastructure and P2.9 billion-worth of agricultural properties.

While mounting the offensive, Red fighters gathered the SCPC workers to explain the reason for the punitive action..