Manhunt launched vs alleged NPA rebels in South Cotabato

KORONADAL CITY—Police and military authorities in South Cotabato have launched a manhunt against communist guerrillas, who torched four heavy equipment of a construction firm in T’boli, South Cotabato last Friday evening.

Chief Insp. Jose Marie Simagan, T’boli police chief, said the incident happened in Barangay (village) Edwards at 8 p.m.

Simangan said around 10 to 15 heavily armed suspected New Peoples’ Army (NPA) sneaked into the compound of AJ Construction Company around 8 p.m., disarmed its security guards and set on fire four construction equipment.

Torched were a road roller, a backhoe, a grader and a dump truck.

Quoting the firm’s security guards, Simangan said the armed men quietly arrived at the firm’s ground equipment compound, then identified themselves as NPA rebels as they rounded up the unspecified number of guards.

Simangan said extortion was the likely motive.

AJ Construction Company has been working on a road expansion project in T’boli, an upland town in South Cotabato.

Last December 8, communist guerrillas also attacked a construction firm in adjacent Lake Sebu town, also in South Cotabato after its owner ignored extortion demand and killed two security guards. RAM

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