Chief Inspector Elias Colonia, Matalam police chief, said the owner of the truck, a relative of a politician had repeatedly rejected the rebels’ demand for money.
Four men brandishing assault rifles casually approached the truck parked along a road in Barangay Estado at 2 p.m., ordered its driver to disembark, and burned the vehicle using kerosene.
Before fleeing, the armed men divested the driver of wristwatch, mobile and other personal belongings, he said.
Colonia said the gunmen fled towards Barangay Esperanza in President Roxas town, where the NPA staged a landmine attack last week.
President Roxas town Mayor Jaime Mahimpit survived the said attack but three of his escorts were wounded.
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