NPA rebels burn dump truck, backhoe

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Suspected members of the New People’s Army allegedly destroyed two construction equipment owned by a private firm in Cauayan town, Negros Occidental, at 8 p.m. Monday.

Lieutenant Colonel Ariel Reyes, commander of the 47th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army, said about 30 armed NPA rebels torched a backhoe and a dump truck, owned by Henry Jordan of HGL Construction at sitio Bota in Barangay Kaliling of Cauayan.

The equipment was used for the construction and rehabilitation of road segment, which is a government developmental project, in the barangy, said Reyes, adding that the rebels reportedly sent extortion letters but were denied by the construction company.

Colonel Allan Martin, commander of the 302nd Infantry Brigade, condemned the NPA attack. “We intensified our security operations in the area targeting those who are behind this atrocity.”

Martin said the NPA has been desperate in depriving the people’s aspiration for socio-economic development through this atrocity. The business sector should cooperate by reporting any extortion attempt to prevent a similar incident in the future, he said.

Major General Rey Leonardo Guerrero, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division, assured that “the Philippine Army here in Western Visayas will continue to protect the citizenry and ensure that development efforts of the government will reach the people especially in the far flung barangays.” —Marchel P. Espina (FREEMAN)