Suspected NPA rebels burn construction equipment in Quezon

LUCENA CITY—Suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels burned several heavy equipment and the field office of a dam contractor in Real town in Quezon province shortly before midnight Monday.

First Lt. Felise Vida Solano, public information officer of the Armed Forces Southern Luzon Command (Solcom), quoting a report from Agustin Jaramillo Jr., project manager, said three dump trucks, two backhoes, a transit mixer, loader, generator set, L300 van, and a pick up, were torched by a group of Maoist-inspired guerillas in Barangay Maragondon around 11:30 p.m.

The report said sleeping workers were awakened and rounded up by about 10 NPA rebels.

The guerrillas burned the equipment using gasoline. The suspected rebels left the place without harming any of the workers.

The equipment was being used in the construction of a mini-hydro dam project in the area. However, the report did not identify the contractor’s company.

Police and soldiers from the Army’s 80th Infantry Battalion were conducting hot pursuit operations against the culprits.

The Solcom strongly condemned the NPA attack as it “stops development in areas that are growing economically.”

“This is a desperate act of the Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA because they are targeting innocent civilians now. Our units will not rest until the perpetrators are caught to answer for their crimes,” Solcom said in a statement sent to the Inquirer. /lzb