NPA rebels attack 5 Globe cell sites in Bicol

LEGAZPI CITY – Five Globe Telecom cell sites were damaged and their guards either disarmed or wounded when New People’s Army (NPA) rebels attacked them simultaneously in Albay, Sorsogon and Camarines Sur, military and rebel officials here confirmed yesterday.

Col. Romeo Ayson, Task Force Tiwasay team leader and deputy commander of the Army’s 901st Infantry Brigade based in Villahermosa, Daraga, Albay, said the attacks were carried out in Barangay Homapon this city; Barangay Bagacay in Jovellar town; Barangay Bacong in Ligao City, all in Albay; Barangay Luneta in Barcelona, Sorsogon; and Del Gallego town in Camarines Sur.

Ayson said some 20 heavily armed rebels torched the radio room and riddled the Globe cell site in Barangay Homapon with bullets, after disarming guard Jesus Calicula of his .38 caliber pistol at around 7:25 p.m.

The rebels still managed to engage the responding police and soldiers in a brief firefight before retreating to the mountainous portion of the village.

Almost at the same time, another group fired at the Globe cell site in Barangay Bacong, Ligao City, and wounded a security guard when he attempted to fire back, Ayson said.

Later at around 8:15 p.m., 10 armed rebels also blasted the cell site in Barcelona, Sorsogon, took the guard’s service firearm, and immediately left the area.

Two hours later, at least five armed rebels hurled a Molotov bomb at the cell site in Barangay Bagacay, Jovellar, Albay and took the .38 caliber service revolver and VHF handheld radio of the guard.

Simultaneously, a rebel squad was also reported to have shot at the Globe cell site in the railroad town of Del Gallego in Camarines Sur.

Ayson lambasted the rebels for destroying important communication facilities, adding that cell sites must be spared from such atrocities as they provide services to the people.

Greg Bañares, Bicol National Democratic Front spokesman, went on live broadcast here yesterday to own up to the cell site attacks.

Local executives of Globe Telecom refused to make public the cost or extent of damage inflicted by the recent rebel attacks on their facilities.