Around 40 suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) torched two heavy equipment units in Barangay Bolisong in Manjuyod, Negros Oriental on Thursday night.
The armed men set on fire a bulldozer and a backhoe owned by PhilSouth Construction, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said in a report on Friday.
Passengers of a bus who witnessed the incident told investigators that the men shouted “Mabuhay ang Bagong Hukbong Bayan (Long live, New People’s Army)” as the flames engulfed the equipment.
No casualty was reported in the incident, the PNP said.
Police officers in coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) are still in hot pursuit of the perpetrators.
Investigators are looking at extortion as possible motive for the incident.
Officials of the Negros Oriental condemned the attack of the Communist Party of the Philippines – NPA (CPP-NPA), as it hampered the ongoing roadwork projects of a vital farm-to-market road in the province.
“Those behind this crime are resisting entry of development in the countryside that would have ushered government presence and availability of goods and services that will benefit people in the barrios,” PNP Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said.
‘Koda Supermarket’
Meanwhile, Police Director Mao Aplasca, PNP Director for Operations, has also alerted all police units to conduct operations to counter the offensive activities of the CPP-NPA dubbed as “Koda Supermarket.”
This tactic aims to collect firearms and equipment from the police and the military by conducting raids and ambush, the PNP said.
Aplasca said that the recent ambuscades staged by the NPA in Lupi, Camarines Sur on Thursday, October 18, and in Aurora province on Tuesday, October 16, were part of this strategy.
Four police officers were killed in the two separate ambush incidents.
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“We condemn these latest acts of lawless terror by the local communist movement against symbols of government authority. We mourn their loss, but assure the ends of justice will be served,” Albayalde said.
Albayalde noted that the recent attacks of the CPP-NPA could be meant to project them a strong image to highlight their 50th-founding anniversary on December 26.
He said the communists could also be aiming at boosting extortion activities as the election season heats up./ac