The Kidapawan City Legislative Council has condemned the
armed men who burned the heavy equipment of a road construction firm in
Barangay Mua-an here on Sunday.
The police said on Tuesday they already have the identities
of the perpetrators who have been mulcting the construction firm and the
burning was carried out because of the firm's refusal to shell out
"protection money" to the communist rebels.
Four pieces of heavy equipment owned by a construction firm
from Gen. Santos City were parked near the village hall to ensure safety when
they were set on fire by suspected New People's Army (NPA) rebels, according to
the military.
Councilor Francis Palmones, chair of the Kidapawan City
Sangguniang Panlungsod committee on peace and order, delivered a privilege
speech condemning the atrocities by the lawless elements.
He said it was a "terroristic and barbaric act"
which caused traumatic experiences to the firm's employees and residents in the
village of Mua
“They sow terror in our city. I condemn the act and consider
it as barbaric as it caused panic and fear among constituents in Barangay
Mua-an,” Palmones said.
To the lawless elements, he has this message: “Please don’t
disturb the peace and tranquility of Kidapawan
City
An estimated 12 heavily armed NPA rebels torched the heavy
equipment in Barangay Mua-an for alleged failure of its owner, the Jargon
Construction, to pay the revolutionary taxes.
Reports said the rebels arrived in the area in six
motorcycles, poured gasoline on the equipment -- two dump trucks, a back hoe
and a cement mixer-- and set them on fire.
The equipment were used in concreting the road connecting
the villages of Mua-an and Ilomavis.
Supt. Franklin Anito, city chief of police, said the
estimated damage was PhP20 million.
Anito told reporters the suspects were members of the NPA as
some of them were identified by witnesses in the police photo gallery.
Azer Perez, the village head of Mua-an, said that before the
armed men left the place, they identified themselves as NPA members and fired
their firearm several times.
Despite the incident, the firm is determined to finish the
road that will connect Barangay Mua-an to Barangay Ilomavis, two villages at
the slope of the country's highest peak.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=714487
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