BUTUAN CITY – Authorities and local telecommunications giant Globe officials said that the cell site bombed by suspected NPA rebels early dawn Sunday in Claver, Surigao del Norte remained not serviceable as of the moment claiming the total damaged is estimated to have reached P5-million.
The Caraga Police Information Office here headed by Police Senior Inspector Nelly Villagarcia said the control panel, main perimeter lights, tower control, power supply, structure assembly which contained two unit of airconditioning system, Paso link signal light, battery radio and IPU unit tower control box of the Globe transmission tower were damaged after suspected communist rebels bombed it.
Police initial investigation showed that said structure was secured by two security guards identified as Damaso Paqueo y Papelleras, 44, married and resident of Barangay Ladgaron, Claver, Surigao del Norte; and Rico Alico y Cabangbang, 39, married and resident of Mabini, Tubajon, Dinagat Islands Province.
Said guards were captured and held by the raiding NPA rebels but were later released after the bombing.
Claver police found a live hand grenade at the cell site which was later detonated by responding soldiers belonging to the Philippine Army’s 30th Infantry Battalion.
Belated reports reaching this region’s capital showed operatives from the 30th Infantry Battalion Philippine Army personnel based in Barangay Mahanub, Gigaquit, Surigao del Norte is now conducting hot pursuit operation against the fleeing suspects.
Since June 28, when the NPA rebels sought refuge in an island in Claver, Surigao del Norte after attacking two police stations in Siargao Island, sporadic skirmishes took place in Claver including the alleged killing of two soldiers and policemen as a result of what the New People’s Army described as misencounter of the two government forces.
Claver town aside from being host to two telecommunications giant cell sites, Globe and Smart is also host to three mining firms operating in the area. – Ben Serrano