NPA Terrorists Burned Down Another Heavy Construction Equipment in Catanduanes

CAMP ELIAS ANGELES, Pili, Camarines Sur – NPA terrorist rebels operating in Catanduanes burned down a heavy construction equipment used in a preventive maintenance operation yesterday, a military report said.

LtCol Danilo Aquino, Commander of the 83rd Infantry Battalion based in San Andres town, said that more or less 5 NPA rebels of the CPP-NPA-NDF’s Islacom Pusa under a certain Ka James, torched down a backhoe owned by Sunwest Corporation at around 3:30pm, July 29 (Wednesday)

“The local terrorist group members burned down the heavy equipment in Barihay village of San Andres town, because of the private contractor’s refusal to pay the extortion demand. They have also attempted but failed to burn some heavy equipment used in Solong Hydroelectric plant last year,” said Aquino.

Aquino said that his unit was not informed about the start of the ‘preventive maintenance’ work carried out by Sunwest in the 80-kilometer stretch of the San Andres-Virac-Viga road, which is part of the 200km Catanduanes’s circumferential road.

“We have an agreement with the private contractors to inform us prior to the actual conduct of their operations. Unfortunately, the coordinator of Sunwest failed to tell us despite the fact that they had resumed their work last July 27, Tuesday,” added Aquino.

Barely two months ago, two motor graders owned by Sunwest Corporation were also torched down by CPP-NPA-NDF armed rebels in Bula, Camarines Sur. During that incident, two militiamen who unfortunately passed by the scene of burning, were also murdered by the fleeing rebels.

The burning of construction equipment is carried out by the NPA terrorists whenever their extortion demand is not granted.

Major General Ruperto Pabustan, Commander of the 9th Infantry Division had directed the 83rd Infantry Battalion to hunt down the perpetrators and conduct security patrols to prevent similar incidents from happening again.