Telecom equipment torched

CAMP MIGUEL MALVAR, Batangas City — At least 10 heavily armed men, who introduced themselves as members of the New People’s Army (NPA), torched equipment of Smart Communications worth about P5 million in Lobo, Batangas yesterday, police said.

Police said five of the armed men entered Smart’s compound in Barangay Calo and proceeded to burn the equipment still kept in a container van, while the rest acted as lookouts.

Witnesses said the rebels also shot a transmission line, causing a power failure in the area.

Superintendent Florante Baguio, Batangas police director, said the attackers mentioned that they merely wanted to send a warning to the telecommunications company for ignoring their demand for protection money. — Arnell Ozaeta