NPAs torch BayanTel station in Bicol over revolutionary tax

LEGAZPI CITY — New People’s Army (NPA) rebels burned Sunday the BayanTel-RCPI relay station in Barangay Kinalabasahan, some 30 kms from Bula town, Camarines Sur, police said.

Chief Superintendent Rodolfo Tor, Bicol police regional director, sad the heavily-armed NPA rebels surrounded the relay station and rounded up the two radio communication technicians and the security guard located at Mt. Kamurubalan at about 4:15 p.m. Sunday.

"The rebels, numbering 25, poured gasoline and set on fire the powerhouse and the radio room," said Tor.

He added that the company has not paid the "revolutionary tax’ demanded by the rebels as part of their massive extortion activity to support their revolutionary war in the countryside.

"They need more funds now that the US and European countries have frozen their assets."

Estimated damage was P80 million.

He said the two radio communication technicians were Oliver Dizon of Cubao, Quezon City and Sebastian Estifante of Naga City while the security guard was a certain Reynario Golpo.

The rebels released the hostages after withdrawing to the adjacent barangay, reports said.

Meanwhile, Army soldiers captured Saturday afternoon three NPA guerrillas in Labo, Camarines Norte, after an encounter at the boundaries of Barangay Lukbanan in Capalonga town and Barangay Tigbinan, Labo, all in Camaarines Norte.

Brig. Gen. Santiago Prejido, commanding officer of the Army’s 9th Infantry Brigade based in Camp Canuto in Camarines Sur, identified the NPA rebels as Martin Acayin alias Simeon and couple Jose and Beatriz de Vera.

Prejido said that the captured rebels were part of a rebel group that raided the police station recently in Lopez, Quezon and killed Supt. Cesar Santander, town police chief, and his assistant killed.

Reports said that about six NPA rebels were extorting money and asking for food from villagers in the area.

The villagers who resented the extortion tipped off the authorities about the presence of the rebels.

Civilian cooperation also resulted in the killing of five armed men believed to be members of the Rebolusyonaryong Hukbong Bayan (RHB), a breakaway group of the NPA in Mexico, Pampanga last Sunday.

Chief Supt. Oscar Calderon, Central Luzon police director, said that concerned local residents of Mexico have assisted authorities by reporting to the Army the presence of unidentified armed men in their barangay, which engaged the rebels in a 15 minute firefight.

The five rebels killed were identified as Romana Bonque Dizon, 34, the alleged leader, Rafael Yabut, 31, Alfie de Jesus, 20, Roberto Obet Tungol, 28, all of Barangay Akle, Mexico and Teodoro Marcelo, 27, of Palmera Subdivision, Angeles City. — With Ric Sapnu, Edith Regalado