SET ABLAZE. Suspected communist New People's Army rebels torch late Monday (March 9, 2020) four units of heavy equipment belonging to a construction firm undertaking a government road concreting project in Barangay Lower Liasan, Tambulig, Zamboanga del Sur. No one was hurt during the attack. (Photo courtesy of Tambulig Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office)
ZAMBOANGA CITY – Suspected communist New People’s Army (NPA) rebels set ablaze four heavy equipment units owned by a construction firm undertaking a government project in the province of Zamboanga del Sur, officials said Tuesday.
Col. Rhode Espero, Zamboanga del Sur police director, said the incident occurred around 9:30 p.m. Monday in Barangay Lower Liasan, Tambulig town.
Espero said the destroyed heavy equipment consisted of two excavators, water tanker and payloader.
Investigation showed the workers were already asleep in their quarters when some 50 NPA rebels arrived and torched the heavy equipment.
No one among the workers of the construction firm was hurt by the NPA rebels, who fled after setting ablaze the heavy equipment.
Nilo Muñoz, Tambulig Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (MDRRMO) chief, said they have yet to determine the worth of properties damaged during the incident.
Comprising of 31 barangays, Tambulig is a fourth-class municipality with a population of 36,160 as of the 2015 census.
The NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines. (PNA)
