Armed men torch black sand mining equipment in Cagayan

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya – Suspected communist rebels burned a barge and other heavy equipment used by a Chinese company in its black sand extraction and dredging activities in Lal-lo town in Cagayan province on Monday morning, police said.

Chief Inspector Jacinto Tuddao, Lal-lo police chief, said the armed men set on fire a cargo vessel and other equipment including a backhoe, a pay loader and a dump truck at the black sand mining processing site of San You Philippines Mining Trade Ltd. Inc. in Catayauan village at 3 a.m.

Tuddao said policemen have started pursuing the perpetrators, who they suspect are members of the New People’s Army.