NPA rebels torch Zambales equipment used on Capas-Botolan Road

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — Armed men suspected to be New People’s Army rebels burned a backhoe and a payloader owned by a private company that is constructing a portion of the road linking Capas in Tarlac to Botolan in Zambales on Saturday (June 23) in a remote mountain village in Botolan town, according to the Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

The torching of the equipment took place in Sitio Oraan in Barangay Cabatuan, allegedly in a rebel-infested area, said Lt. Col. Isagano Nato, Nolcom public information chief.

The Army’s Mechanized Infantry Battalion had been deployed to pursue the armed group.

Nato said the name of the company that owns the equipment was still being verified at press time.  The extent of the damage was not made public.

The government is spending P5.91 billion to build the 81.63-kilometer Capas-Botolan Road which is designed to cut travel time from 120 minutes to 90 minutes to Clark City, said Public Works Secretary Mark Villar during the Philippine Economic Briefing held at the Clark Freeport in April.