(UPDATE) Leftist rebels storm mining firm in ComVal

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - Leftist rebels from the New People 's Army (NPA) raided a mining firm in southern Philippines and burned 21 assorted heavy equipment, a military spokesman said today.

Capt. Ernest Carolina, spokesman of the Philippine Army's 10th Infantry Division, said some 30 NPA guerrillas stormed the motor pool of the Apex Mining Co. in Masara village, Maco town in Compostela Valley province on Thursday afternoon.

Carolina said the leftist rebels torched drilling machines, payloaders, and backhoes.

Military officials, however, could not yet provide the cost of damage inflicted by the leftist rebels. No one was also reported killed or wounded in the incident.

Carolina said they have yet to establish the motive for the attack.

He said troops from the Philippine Army's 9th Infantry Battalion have been deployed to pursue the NPA guerrillas.

The attack took place just a week after leftist rebels swooped down on the Phil Alstron Mining Co. in Agusan del Norte province and burned eight heavy equipment.

The military said the NPA guerrillas raided the mining firm for its refusal to pay "revolutionary tax."