After a failed attempt at destroying the Globe Telecom relay tower in Barangay Piit in Lucban, Quezon last Saturday, the New People’s Army (NPA) returned with vengeance at around 1 p.m. yesterday, this time totally destroying the tower’s machine room by using much powerful explosives.
Chief Inspector Henry Uhagan, Lucban police chief said, around 20 to 30 alleged communist rebels stormed the partially destroyed cell site after disarming the lone security guard and planted more explosives, paralyzing the communication services in the area.
Last Saturday, around 50 suspected rebels bombed the cellsite’s machine room and the base of the tower, but the structure withstood the blast. The suspects, Uhagan said, even fired at the machine room and tower before fleeing towards neighboring Sampaloc town.
The continuing firefight in the towns of Lucban, Sampaloc, Tiaong, Gumaca that started last week has resulted in the death of SPO3 Clarito Ilao. Three of his pals — SPO3 Levirato Garcia, PO3 Jimmy Bendo and PO1 Ronnel Lamadrid — were also wounded.
Lt. Gen. Pedro Cabuay Jr., Southern Luzon Command Commander, said three army soldiers belonging to the 1st Infantry Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army was killed in the latest encounter with the communist rebels.
Cabuay said at least 50 rebels were blocked by pursuing government troops in Barangay Cabatang in Tiaong town on Monday afternoon.
Cabuay said he is certain that rebels may also have sustained heavy casualties as evidenced by the blood trail on the rebel’s escape route.
"The fleeing rebels are burdened with their dead and wounded comrades. It is expected that the rebels may undertake terroristic acts to divert the pressure and evade the pursuing government forces" Cabuay said.
Residents of five barangays, namely Lumingon, Anastacia, Lagalag, Lasacan and Cabatang, have been evacuated.
The attack on the Globe tower was the 20th facility of the Ayala-owned telecommunications firm bombed by the communist guerrillas.
Yesterday’s attacked during the visit of Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Arturo Lomibao in Siniloan, Laguna, a few kilometers from Lucban. — With Jaime Laude