NPA rebels torch P20-M worth of equipment

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – New People’s Army rebels burned down P20M-worth of construction equipment in Surigao del Sur on Tuesday evening, September 4.

The military said that suspected members of the Guerilla Front 30 under the NPA’s Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee set on fire the construction equipment of the Concepcion Basic Builders Inc in Barangay Poblacion, San Miguel, Surigao del Sur at around 10:20 pm Tuesday.

Damaged in the attack were two dump trucks, one payloader, one backhoe, one generator set with one welding machine, one crane, one concrete vibrator, and a chainsaw.

The equipment was being used to renovate a bridge that would link San Miguel to the key towns in Caraga region, the military said.

A brief encounter ensued after Army troops launched a pursuit operation. The soldiers fought with about 15 rebels in the town of San Miguel Wednesday morning, killing one guerilla, the military said.

The military added that it arrested 3 suspected NPA rebels after the clash.

Surigao del Sur is considered as one of the remaining strongholds of the NPA in the country. – Rappler.com