Suspected rebels torch mining firm's vehicles, equipment

MANILA, Philippines - Suspected communist rebels burned vehicles and heavy equipment of a mining firm in Compostela Valley less than a week after the insurgents staged a similar raid in Agusan del Norte.

Cpt. Ernesto Carolina, spokesman of the Army’s 10th division, said the burning incident happened last Thursday at around 2:30 p.m. in a motor pool owned by Apex Mining Inc. in Barangay Masara in Maco town.

Carolina said a total of 21 equipment and vehicles were torched by about 30 suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA).

Authorities are still estimating the amount of damage sustained by the company. Officials said among the items that got burned were backhoes, loaders, drilling equipment, payloader, Elf truck and a Hilux pick-up.

There were no reported casualties as of Friday.

Carolina said members of the 9th Infantry Battalion are now running after the group behind the atrocity.

Armed Forces Eastern Mindanao Command spokesman Cpt. Alberto Caber attributed the incident to an extortion unit of the NPA.

Compostela Valley is part of the Davao region, one of the areas with a huge concentration of rebel fighters.

The burning incident happened five days after NPA members attacked the Philalstron Mining Corp. compound in Tubay, Agusan del Norte and burned several equipment.   

The insurgents reportedly disarmed the security guards of the compound and torched four dump trucks, two backhoes and two bulldozers.

They also carted three shot guns, two Cal .45, four Cal .38, one Cal 357 magnum revolver, one Cal 3516, one compass, one global positioning system, one camera, four radios and two laptops. (with Alvin Perez and Zaphyr Iral)