By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOPPO) director, Police Senior Superintendent Rodolfo Castil, Jr., recently ordered an investigation in order to determine if the New People’s Army (NPA) was behind last week’s attack on a shuttered mine in Sipalay City.

According to Castil, he doubts the NPA initiated the attack, pointing out the rebels typically do not wear bonnets during their operations.

He also pointed out several “warring” groups interested in the remaining scrap metal located at the old  mine.

Castil said the scrap could be worth millions, if not billions, of pesos.

Earlier, six security guards manning the closed Maricalum Mining Corporation (MMC) site in Sipalay City were disarmed by eight armed men.

Sipalay City police chief, Police Chief Inspector Romeo Vargas, said the attackers struck around 4:30 p.m., where six shotguns, one 9mm pistol and the mobile phones of the Ultrafine Security Agency personnel were seized.

Vargas noted at the time there was no indication the attackers were linked with the NPA.

The police chief said they are looking into the possibility the incident is connected to the ongoing land dispute between MMC and the National Mines and Allied Workers Union Local 103./DGB, WDJ