Civilian killed, 3 wounded in NPA attack in Aurora

MANILA, Philippines—One civilian was killed, while three others were wounded as New People’s Army rebels fired upon government troops and policemen in Aurora Friday, the military said.

A policeman was included among the wounded after government security officers were attacked while responding to an incident when construction equipment was set on fire by the communist rebels at Sitio Dimani in Villa village in Ma. Aurora town, said First Lieutenant Tala Servidad, spokesman of the Army’s 7th Infantry Division based in Nueva Ecija.

Initial reports said that NPA rebels armed with high-powered firearms burned a backhoe and a dump truck owned by Palacios Constructions.  Damage to property was estimated at about P9 million pesos.

The rebels were reportedly extorting money from the company.

The Palacios Constructions is currently working on a road project that connects Metro Manila to Aurora province, Servidad said.

Pursuit operations were ordered against the rebels.