Reds torch P5.9-M equipment used in farm-to-market road project

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 25, 2021): Reds torch P5.9-M equipment used in farm-to-market road project (By Alexander Lopez)

DESTROYED EQUIPMENT. The communist New People’s Army (NPA) on Feb. 24 burned PHP5.9-million worth of equipment being utilized for the completion of a farm-to-market road project in Barangay Binocaran, Malimono, Surigao del Norte. The damaged dump truck and backhoe are owned by CV Construction based in Surigao City. (Photo courtesy of PRO-13 Information Office)

The Police Regional Office in Caraga Region (PRO-13) on Thursday (Feb. 25) condemned the communist New People’s Army (NPA) for burning two units of heavy equipment utilized for the construction of a vital farm-to-market road (FMR) project in Surigao del Norte.

PRO-13 Director, Brig. Gen. Romeo M. Caramat Jr., said the burning took place at around 11 am Wednesday in Barangay Binocaran, Malimono town.

The dump truck and a backhoe, owned by CV Construction based in Surigao City, cost more or less PHP5.9 million.

“At least seven armed men poured gasoline and torched the dump truck and the backhoe,” Caramat said.

He said the suspects are reportedly members of the Guerrilla Front (GF) 16B of the NPA Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC).

“The construction of the FMR project in Binocaran is temporarily stalled because of the attack. The NPA showed anew its true color of being a terrorist group and anti-peace and development. They deserve our shared condemnation,” Caramat said.

He added that the FMR is vital for the farmers and fishermen in connecting them to market centers to deliver their produce.

“Most of the common folks in the area will directly benefit from that FMR project considering that their primary source of living is farming and fishing. They thrive by selling agricultural and fisheries products from the barangays to the markets and the consumers,” Caramat said.

He said investigators are beefing up the pieces of evidence for filing of arson charges against the perpetrators.

“We are also eyeing the possibility that the attacks might be a retaliatory action for the refusal of the company to the extortion demanda of the NPA,” Caramat said.

The NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1131826