Bicol airport site attacked anew

LEGAZPI CITY — Suspected New People’s Army rebels staged another attack at the construction site of the Bicol International Airport is going on in Daraga town in Albay province on Friday morning.

Major Ricky Aguilar, public affairs chief of the Army’s 9th Infantry Division, said an explosion was reported at the construction site of the Bicol International Airport at 10:05 a.m. at Barangay Alobo.

A team of soldiers in a nearby Philippine Army detachment was immediately deployed to the area.

“The team had a firefight with the armed men when they responded to the area,” Aguilar said.

A report said a dump truck owned by E.M. Cuerpo Inc. was damaged in the attack.

Aguilar said clearing operations were ongoing.

On September 28, 2017, at least 10 heavy equipment also owned by E.M. Cuerpo Inc. were burned by unidentified armed men.

Last June, the military and police have tightened the security around the airport as the construction of buildings and facilities on it neared completion. /lzb