From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 19): NPAs burn 4 heavy equipment of construction firm in North Cotabato
Suspected members of the New Peoples Army (NPA) torched on Sunday afternoon four heavy equipment of a construction firm which according to military was part of the rebels’ extortion activities, the Army here said.
First Lieutenant Nasrullah Sema, speaking for the 57th Infantry Battalion, said about 30 heavily armed NPAs arrived compound of Davao Concreting Product Corporation (DCPC) in Barangay Ladayon, Arakan, North Cotabato at about 1 p.m.
”They were looking for the firm’s manager,” Sema said. “When they could not find the manager, they started pouring fuel into six parked heavy equipment and set them on fire,” he added.
One of the security guards quoted the NPA guerillas as telling them that they were looking for the firm management to collect protection money.
“Don’t worry, you will not be harmed, we are only reminding the company of their obligation to pay revolutionary taxes,” Sema quoted one of the security guards as telling investigators.
Sema said among the equipment torched by the armed men were one bulldozer, one road grader and two Mitsubishi Elf hauler trucks.
The suspects then fled on board a separate truck.It was the second burning incident in North Cotabato in five days.
On Wednesday, NPA rebels torched six heavy equipment of Sumifru banana firm in Matalam, North Cotabato that include three prime mover and three hauler trucks, also known as “Iraqi” trucks.
The suspects also fled with three firearms of the security guards.
Sema said Army Special Forces and 57th Infantry Battalion have been placed on heightened alert following the burning incidents.
Muti-national firms operating in North Cotabato have been subjected to harassment by NPA after the firms’ refusal to provide “protection money.”
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=556419
Suspected members of the New Peoples Army (NPA) torched on Sunday afternoon four heavy equipment of a construction firm which according to military was part of the rebels’ extortion activities, the Army here said.
First Lieutenant Nasrullah Sema, speaking for the 57th Infantry Battalion, said about 30 heavily armed NPAs arrived compound of Davao Concreting Product Corporation (DCPC) in Barangay Ladayon, Arakan, North Cotabato at about 1 p.m.
”They were looking for the firm’s manager,” Sema said. “When they could not find the manager, they started pouring fuel into six parked heavy equipment and set them on fire,” he added.
One of the security guards quoted the NPA guerillas as telling them that they were looking for the firm management to collect protection money.
“Don’t worry, you will not be harmed, we are only reminding the company of their obligation to pay revolutionary taxes,” Sema quoted one of the security guards as telling investigators.
Sema said among the equipment torched by the armed men were one bulldozer, one road grader and two Mitsubishi Elf hauler trucks.
The suspects then fled on board a separate truck.It was the second burning incident in North Cotabato in five days.
On Wednesday, NPA rebels torched six heavy equipment of Sumifru banana firm in Matalam, North Cotabato that include three prime mover and three hauler trucks, also known as “Iraqi” trucks.
The suspects also fled with three firearms of the security guards.
Sema said Army Special Forces and 57th Infantry Battalion have been placed on heightened alert following the burning incidents.
Muti-national firms operating in North Cotabato have been subjected to harassment by NPA after the firms’ refusal to provide “protection money.”
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=556419