Around 136 communist rebels were charged with robbery in band and arson for the attack at the mining site of Platinum Group Metal Corp. (PGMC) in Claver, Surigao del Norte in October 2011.
Charged before the office of Surigao City Prosecutor Jesse Rey Silvosa were Jorge Madlos alias Oris, Spokesperson of NPA Mindanao Committee; Myrna Sularte alias Maria Malaya, Iyay, Bing-bing, Imang, Secretary of NPA’s North Eastern Mindanao Committee; Nando Robuca alias Putol; Rommel Salinas alias Mark, Artem, Doming; Pablo Logatiman alias Boni, Mike, Bedo; Edilborte Reponte Dabal alias Bong, Waco; Isagani Madlos alias Edron; a certain Bea; Daday; Rudy; Nayan; Grace; Liam; Owen/Jong; Joseph; Cris/Tomas and 120 other suspected members of NPA rebels with last known address at Barangay Cadianao, Claver, Surigao del Norte.
The police said the leaders, who were named in the complaint, were positively identified by witnesses as the personalities who led the attack at the PGMC mining site in Cadianao, Claver town last October 3.
Madlos, Sularte and Edron have standing warrant of arrests for other NPA-related atrocities in Northern Mindanao.
Investigation disclosed that the said suspects led the raid at the site of PGMC that resulted to the destruction of 18 trucks and other equipment amounting to more than PhP2 billion. The suspects also disarmed and divested the security and office personnel of PGMC of seven 9mm pistols, 7 shotguns, three .38 caliber revolvers, 3 KG-9 rifles, radio and office equipment amounting to PhP423,000.
The incident resulted in the destruction of 18 trucks and many other equipments amounting to more than PhP2 billion (US$47.18 million). In a number of cases, the NPA uses extortion as a means of funding their operations. The NPA has said it attacked the mining site because it destroyed the environment and maltreated its employees. But many believe the reason behind it is that the mining company refused to pay revolutionary taxes.
