NPA seen behind arson attack in South Cotabato

SOUTH COTABATO, Philippines - Authorities on Sunday tagged the New People’s Army as behind the burning last Friday of some P20 million worth of equipment of a construction firm in T’boli town.

The hinterland T’boli municipality, inhabited predominantly by indigenous T’boli people, is located in west of South Cotabato province.

Gunmen raided Friday night the equipment depot of the AJ Construction Company in Barangay Edwards, not far from the T’boli town proper and set on fire a road roller, a backhoe, a grader and a truck using kerosene and dry coconut palms.

The firm, involved in road projects in remote barangays in the municipality, had earlier rejected demands for “protection money” by local NPA forces.

Chief Insp. Jose Marie Simangan, municipal police chief of T’boli, said investigators have identified the commander of the NPAs behind the attack.

Simangan on Sunday said they have confirmed, after an extensive validation, that NPAs indeed were responsible for the atrocity.

The rebels even left letters to local officials warning of more attacks if private contractors involved in local infrastructure projects will continue to refuse to shell out “protection money” on a regular basis.