Vehicles torched as leftist rebels storm Chinese mining firm in Agusan

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Xinhua) - Leftist rebels attacked a Chinese mining company in Agusan del Norte over the weekend, burning vehicles and disarming its guards, military and police officials said today.

About 100 heavily-armed New People's Army guerrillas swooped down on the Alston Mining Company in Tubay town, in Agusan del Norte, around 1:15 a.m., said Superintendent Martin Gamba, spokesperson of the Caraga regional police.

The rebels, led by a local commander named Dodi of the NPA's Front 21 also set fire to several office buildings, aside from torching four dump trucks, a back hoe of the mining company owned by a Chinese national, Gamba said.

Captain Christian Uy, spokesperson of the army's 4th Infantry Division, told Xinhua in a text message the rebels also seized six shotguns from guards, before fleeing to a forested area northeast of the village.

"We suspected extortion as the motive behind this incident," said Uy, adding pursuit operations were now being launched by government forces against the rebels.