NPAs torch mining firm’s heavy equipment, vehicles

MANILA, Philippines - Suspected communist rebels burned vehicles and heavy equipment of a mining firm in Compostela Valley last Thursday afternoon, less than a week after the insurgents staged a similar raid in Agusan del Norte.

Capt. Ernesto Carolina, spokesman of the Army’s 10th Infantry Division, said about 30 New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas swooped down on a motor pool owned by Apex Mining Inc. in Barangay Masara in Maco town, torching 21 heavy equipment and vehicles.

Authorities were still estimating the amount of losses sustained by the company. Officials said among those torched were backhoes, loaders, drilling equipment, payloader, Elf truck, and a Hilux pick-up.

There were no reported casualties in the attack.

Carolina said men of the 9th Infantry Battalion are now running after the NPA band behind the attack.

Capt. Alberto Caber, Armed Forces’ Eastern Mindanao Command spokesman, blamed the arson on an extortion unit of the NPA.

Compostela Valley is part of the Davao region, one of the areas with a huge concentration of communist insurgents.

The arson happened five days after NPA rebels attacked the Philalstron Mining Corp. compound in Tubay, Agusan del Norte and burned several equipment.   

The guerrillas reportedly disarmed the mining firm’s security guards and torched four dump trucks, two backhoes and two bulldozers.

They also carted away three shotguns, two .45-calber pistols, four .38-caliber revolvers, a 357-caliber magnum revolver, a 3516 caliber, a compass, a global positioning system, a camera, four radios and two laptops. – Alexis Romero, Edith Regalado