Suspected communist rebels burn heavy equipment in Compostela

TAGUM CITY—Suspected communist rebels burned four pieces of heavy equipment in Compostela, Compostela Valley before midnight on Thursday, the police reported Friday.
The incident happened at Purok (community) 7, Maparat village at around 11 p.m., according to Supt. Antonio Rivera, Southern Mindanao police regional spokesperson.
Rivera said eight armed men believed to be members of the New People’s Army arrived on four motorcycles, poured gasoline into and set on fire two dump trucks, a bulldozer and an excavator  (backhoe) owned by Verlin Construction Inc.
The perpetrators then fled to an unknown direction after the incident, Rivera said, adding that pursuit operations were now being conducted against them. Frinston L. Lim/RAM