Suspected NPAs torch construction firm's 4 heavy equipment, manhunt on

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 23): Suspected NPAs torch construction firm's 4 heavy equipment, manhunt on

Police and military authorities here have launched a manhunt against suspected communist guerrillas who torched four heavy equipment of a construction firm in T’boli, South Cotabato Friday night.

Chief Inspector Jose Marie Simagan, T’boli police chief, told DXOM-AM Radyo Bida the incident happened in Barangay Edwards at 8 p.m..

Simangan said about 10 to 15 heavily armed suspected New Peoples’ Army (NPA) arrived in the compound of AJ construction company in Barangay Edwards at 8 p.m., disarmed the security guards and set on fire four construction equipment.

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

Quoting the firm’s security guards, Simangan said the armed men quietly arrived in the firm’s ground equipment compound and identify themselves as “NPAs.”

After setting on fire the construction equipment, the suspects left letters addressed to the construction company owner and to South Cotabato Gov. Daisy Avance Fuentes.

Simangan said extortion was the likely motive.

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

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=849600