Monday, January 25, 2016

NPA extortion eyed as motive for burning of construction equipment

From the Manila Bulletin  (Jan 25): NPA extortion eyed as motive for burning of construction equipment

The military has launched a manhunt against a group of New People’s Army (NPA) members who allegedly burned a fleet of heavy equipment owned by a private contractor while undertaking the construction of a private airport in T’boli, South Cotabato last Friday night.

Lt. Col. Ronald Jess Alcudia, 27th Infantry Battalion commander, said security forces have been dispatched to track down at least 10 NPA rebels responsible for torching the fleet of heavy equipment which consisted of grader, back hoe, dump truck and compact roller.

The equipment were owned by AJ Construction Corp. which is constructing the airstrip of Sumifro Corp., a multi-national fruit processing firm in Barangay Edwards in T’boli town.

Police said at least 10 heavily armed NPA rebels stormed the construction site inside the banana plantation owned by the company  and held the four security guards at gun point before setting on fire the heavy equipment worth P20 million.

Police eyed extortion as the possible motive for the attack as the contractor and Sumifro management had reportedly received extortion letter from the NPA prior to the incident.
 

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