100 soldiers to secure Bicol airport site

LEGAZPI CITY , Philippines  – Albay Gov. Joey Salceda said yesterday at least 100 soldiers will be deployed to the construction site of the Southern Luzon International Airport (SLIA) in Daraga town to guard against another attack by New People’s Army (NPA) rebels.

Accompanied by Army and police officials, Salceda visited the 400-hectare construction site a day after NPA rebels raided it.

“This is a temporary setback and this will not delay the time frame for the completion of SLIA,” Salceda said.

Salceda said the timely completion of SLIA is critical in making Albay a top tourism destination in the country.

 “About 500,000 to 650,000 tourists will be visiting Albay with an operational SLIA based on the DOT’s (Department of Tourism) projected total tourist arrivals in the country at 10 million in 2016,” said Salceda, adding that the province needs to construct 10 hotels to absorb these tourists.

Col. Arthur Ang, commanding officer of the 901st Infantry Brigade, said the 15-member Army team will be increased to 100 under the supervision of Lt. Col. Audrey Pacia of the 2nd Infantry Batallion.

“We will put up an Army company base at the construction site. There will also be a full-time coordinator from the Sunwest Construction and Development Corp. who will monitor and manage all the construction activities and security arrangements,” Ang told The STAR in a text message.

Reports said three groups of NPA rebels, who swooped down on the construction site Friday night, torched P100 million worth of heavy equipment.   

Meanwhile, Malacañang said it has ordered intensified intelligence gathering in the areas where NPA rebels are known to operate.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said companies that have been receiving extortion letters from communist rebels should also coordinate with security official