Rebels torch firm’s equip’t

SUSPECTED communist rebels burned four pieces of heavy equipment owned by a construction company in South Cotabato at 10 p.m. on Friday in an alleged attempt to extort money from the firm.

Set on fire in Barangay Edwards, Tboli, South Cotabato, were a backhoe, a grader, a 10-wheel dump truck and a steamroller belonging to Edwin Tan Go Construction Co.

The military blamed the attack on suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels.

Lt. Col. Ronald Jess Alcudia, commander of the 27th Infantry Action Battalion, said the rebels were “insensitive” to the plight of the workers, since the torching of equipment and extortion from the construction company “are ways of depriving them of the needed wages to support their families.”

The suspects reportedly left an extortion letter for the construction company, which is constructing an airstrip.

The military said the NPA extorts around P2.4 billion each year, especially during the election period.

Alcudia said the usual victims are mining firms, big agro-industrial firms, commercial establishments, bus operators, construction companies undertaking government projects, telecommunications companies and multinational corporations. Julie M. Aurelio