DARAGA, Albay -- Two groups of suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels on Thursday night carried out separate attacks against a police detachment in Barangay Bascaran and minutes later set fire on the heavy equipment at the construction site at the Bicol International Airport (BIA) in Barangay Alobo in this town.
Reports reaching the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Albay said on Friday that a 30-minute firefight ensued between policemen and an undetermined number of suspected rebels.
Chief Inspector Arthur Gomez, PNP Albay spokesperson, said the gunfight at the PNP Public Safety Command detachment lasted for 30 minutes but no casualty was reported on both sides.
He added it appeared that the attack at the Bascaran police detachment is a diversionary tactic for the NPA guerillas to torch 11 construction machineries such at BIA. The attackers burned five heavy equipment trucks, mini dump truck, a cement mixer, crane among others, owned by the EM Cuerpo Builders.
He said it was the second attack staged by the rebels at the BIA. The first was in 2005 when a group of NPA men barged in at the construction site and torched several equipment of the Sun West Construction after the firm denied the extortion demands from the rebels.
Barangays Bascaran and Alobo in Daraga town are 20 kilometers away from Legazpi City.
Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Salceda on Friday expressed dismay over the reported attack at BIA.
“So sad. Another big setback after 12 years of effort. But we are not giving up,” he said.
The Albay solon has asked the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the PNP to fully secure the ongoing construction work of the BIA passenger terminal building which is currently in its final stage.
“We remain hopeful and the entire government is resolute that the President’s commitment of completion in three years will still be met by early 2020,” Salceda said. (PNA)
