MANILA, Philippines—Communist rebels raided the compound of a mining firm in Claver, Surigao del Norte, Monday morning, a military official said.
Colonel Rodrigo Diapana, brigade commander of the 402nd Infantry Battalion based in Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur said some 70 rebels wearing police uniforms and on board two dump trucks swooped down on the compound of Taganito Mining Corp. (TMC) around 10 a.m. Monday.
Diapana said they have yet to determine the extent of damage as a result of the raid as military operations were still ongoing.
Meanwhile, according to initial reports from the Caraga Police, at least 200 armed rebels attacked the mining firm and abducted several manages.
Other rebel groups also conducted road blocks at Baoy Bridge, boundery of Claver-Gogaquit in Barangay (village) Hayanggabo; Sitio (sub-village) Capangdan in Barangay Urbiztondo; and Claver Public Cemetery.
TMC is one of the country’s leading exporters of nickel ore to Japan, China and Australia.
No other details were available as of posting time.
Originally posted at 2:19 pm | October 03, 2011