Suspected NPA rebels torch heavy equipment in Quezon

Suspected members of New People’s Army burned these heavy equipment that were being used in the road widening construction going to the proposed location of the controversial Kaliwa dam project by the Metropolitan Waterworks Sewerage System in the Sierra Madre. Contributed photo

LUCENA CITY – Suspected New People’s Army rebels burned heavy equipment belonging to a road construction firm in Infanta town in Quezon province early Friday, police said.

The band of at least 15 rebels set fire three backhoes and one bulldozer owned by Northern Builders Corp in Barangay (village) Magsaysay around 6:30 a.m., Senior Supt. Osmundo de Guzman, Quezon police director, said in a report.

The equipment were being used in the road widening construction going to the proposed location of the controversial Kaliwa dam project by the Metropolitan Waterworks Sewerage System in the Sierra Madre mountain ranges. No workers were reported hurt during the attack.

The MWSS has long been pushing for the construction of the Kaliwa dam as a major component of its New Centennial Water Source Project to address a projected water crisis in Metro Manila.

Environmentalist groups, religious, militant groups and concerned local government officials in northern Quezon have been waging a vigorous campaign to stop the dam project.

Combined police and Army troopers were tracking down the NPA rebels as of Friday evening.

Two weeks ago, the NPA rebels also burned several heavy equipment and the field office of another construction company in nearby Real town.