ILOILO CITY, (PNA)–The police are presently investigating the burning of the cargo truck in Barangay Gibato, Dumarao, Capiz.
Police report reaching here Friday morning said six armed men brandishing M16 armalite rifles who introduced themselves as members of the New People’s Army (NPA) rebels were tagged responsible in setting the cargo truck on fire.
In its investigation, SPO3 Tobias Garsin of the Dumarao Municipal Police Station said the truck with 10 work crew on board was heading towards San Rafael, Iloilo for palay procurement in time for the harvest season when flagged down by the armed suspects somewhere in Sitio Cagay, Barangay Rizal, Barotac Viejo,Iloilo.
The armed men commandeered the truck until they reached Brgy. Gibato in Dumarao where they set the vehicle on fire.
Based on testimonies of victims they were ordered by the armed suspects, sporting T-shirts uniform of the Philippine National Police, to disembark after the vehicle got stuck in the mud.
But they were surprised seeing the truck already on fire while they were being dragged towards the nearby bamboo plantation for brief questioning before they were allowed to leave unhurt.
The damaged has yet to be determined by the police authorities.