MANILA, Philippines – Communist insurgents belonging to the New People's Army (NPA) attacked a pig farm in Libona, Mindanao, a military spokesman said Wednesday (October 30th) according to AFP.

About 50 fighters set fire to the feed storehouse then attacked the area where about 560 pigs were kept, local military spokesman Christian Uy said.

"They burned some pigs and hacked others to death. About 50 pigs were killed while the rest were injured and are now being treated by veterinarians," he told AFP.

The spokesman said the attack may have been prompted by the farm's failure to meet rebel extortion demands. The insurgents often demand money from rural businesses like farms and plantations.

"They saw that the assets of the company are the live pigs so that is what they tried to destroy," he said.