CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga – At least 60 unidentified armed men suspected to be members of the New People’s Army raided over the weekend a mining company in Barangay Pinagrealan, Candelaria, Zambales and torched several heavy equipment of the company.
In his report here, Senior Superintendent Roland Felix, Zambales police provincial director, said armed men who were on board a 6 X 6 truck forcibly entered the Sinophil Mining Co. at said barangay.
The suspects upon entering the compound, disarmed the security guards manning the gate.
The guards then were hogtied and placed in a room, said Felix.
The suspects poured gasoline into one bulldozer, two backhoes, one truck and a compressor of rock and set them on fire.
After burning the equipment, the raiding team fled towards the direction of Acoje mining site in Barangay Lucapon South, Sta. Cruz, Zambales.
Felix said the combined Zambales police team, Special Action Force and Candelaria police were still on hot pursuit against the rebels. – Ric Sapnu