NPAs torch construction equipment in Davao City

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Suspected New People’s Army (NPA) guerillas set fire to heavy equipment owned by a construction firm in separate incidents here over the weekend.

The firm is owned by Vicente Lao, the president of the Mindanao Business Council.

The first incident occurred in Barangay Mulig, Toril district, at about 10 p.m. Sunday when the rebels set on fire a mini dump truck and a road roller.

The rebels proceeded to the adjacent Barangay Manambulan in Tugbok district and burned a backhoe, also owned by Lao.

It was the third time for the NPA to attack the firm.

Earlier, communist guerrillas torched equipment used in a separate road construction project in Sarangani province.

Authorities eyed extortion as the motive for the attacks.