SAN JOSE, Antique – Armed men believed to be members of the New People’s Army (NPA) burned heavy equipment in Barangay Luyang, Sibalom, Antique.
Lieutenant Colonel Norby Escobar, deputy director for operations of the Provincial Police Office, said at least 30 men who identified themselves as NPAs poured gasoline on a road roller, a hydraulic excavator and a road grader – and set the equipment on fire.
Escobar said the equipment are owned by F and T Construction, which is handling a P2-million road construction in the town.
“Prior to the incident, two men went inside the bunker of the contractor and introduced themselves as NPAs,” Escobar added.
According to Escobar, the foreman and a laborer who were inside the bunker were awakened when the suspects stormed their sleeping quarter. They immediately reported to the incident to police, he said.
He added the heavy equipment units are still operational as these were only partially burned.
“The police are investigating into the possibility that the burning of the heavy equipment could be due to the extortion activity of the NPA when the contractor did not give in,” Escobar said.
Escobar also believed the attack was staged to ambush responding members of the Sibalom municipal police station.
He urged other contractors who have infrastructure projects in the province to coordinate with the police if they have received extortion feelers so authorities could patrol their project sites.
The Bureau of Fire Protection in the province has yet to determine the total cost of damage. (With a report from PNA/PN)
