Rebels storm construction firm; 2 killed

KORONADAL CITY, Philippines – A band of suspected New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas raided a private construction company’s compound and burned heavy equipment worth P50 million in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato on Monday night.

Earlier, reports said the attack left two security men dead and five others wounded.

Authorities have yet to identify the victims as troopers were still clearing the area of explosives.

Jorge Carlos, chief security of the Gemma Construction firm based in this city, said the raid occurred at around 9:30 p.m. in Barangay Lamfugon.

Carlos said the firm’s security personnel and members of the village’s police action team tried but failed to defend the compound.

The firefight lasted more than an hour.

He said the guerrillas burned four pieces of construction equipment, including two backhoes.

Carlos said residents and their security men told him the raiders were NPA rebels.

Police and the military believe the armed men were the same group who raided banana and pineapple processing companies based in the province a few months ago. – With John Unson