NPAs destroy solar equipment in Masbate

LEGAZPI CITY – New People’s Army rebels destroyed the equipment of the Solar Electric System of the Philippine Rural Electrification Services Paris-Maharlika Technology after refusing to give in to extortion, the police said.

Senior Superintendent Theodore Reuben Sindac, Masbate Police provincial director, said that undetermined number of NPA rebels vandalized   57 sets of solar panels, 2.5-square millimeter of copper cable, 1,140-meter-cable wire, 57 units of 12 volt batteries, 57 battery boxes based on the report of the area manager, Eugenio Ronilo Wilba.

Sindac said that equipment for the generation of solar electricty were already distributed to some of the beneficiaries but were later confiscated and torched by NPA terrorists.

On June 6 and 8, the NPAs torched Globe Telecom cell sites and relay stations in Masbate City, Uson and Claveria for refusing to pay revolutionary taxes.

Probers said the rebels belonging to the Jose Rapsing Command were responsible for the destruction of the equipment on June 15.   

Meanwhile, four NPA guerrillas were killed in an encounter during a joint combat operation by elements of the 42nd Infantry Batallion Thursday at Barangay Cawayan in Tinambac town in Camarines Sur, the Army said.

Lt. Col. Alex Luna, commanding officer of the 42nd Infantry Batallion said the team led by 1st Lt. Nonie Alcala chanced upon a group of 25 heavily-armed rebels at about 10:30 a.m., triggering a firefight which lasted for almost an hour.

During a running gunbattle where no one was hurt on the government’s side, the exchange of gunfire resulted to the death of two amazons and two other rebels.

Recovered from the scene were three M-16 rifles with serial number 060840 and one defaced serial number, three short magazines for M-16 rifle, 60 live ammo for M-16 rifle and four jungle backpacks.

The bodies of the slain rebels were brought to the police station of Tinambac for identification. – Celso Amo