NPAs torch heavy equipment

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels raided a construction site and torched two bulldozers, a backhoe and a jeep worth P50.3 million in a village in Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte on Tuesday afternoon, authorities said.

Chief Inspector Ariel Huesca, spokesman of the Region 9 police, said some 20 guerrillas, including four women, swooped down on Sitio Gutay, Barangay Titik and herded workers of ESR Construction Supply and the Department of Public Works and Highway (DPWH).

Huesca said the armed men then poured gasoline on the heavy equipment of ESR Construction Supply owned by one Edmario Revero, and a Willis jeep owned by the DPWH, and set these on fire.

Engineer Cris Rodrigo Cuizon of ESR Construction and Arnold Mocorro Mantiza promptly reported the attack to the police, which quickly responded but failed to catch up with the rebels, according to Huesca.

Huesca said the property damage was estimated at P50.305 million. Police believe the attack was part of the NPA’s extortion activities in the area.