By Ronron
February 16, 2007
Suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) burned before midnight of Thursday two privately-owned construction equipment in Mindoro Oriental province.
Col. Mario Chan, commander of the Philippine Army’s 204th Infantry Brigade based in said province, said some 10 communist rebels used gasoline in torching the pay loader and cement mixer of a private construction company owned by a certain Dr. Malaluan at around 11:45 pm Thursday.
The incident happened at Sitio Tambangan, Barangay San Juan, Bulalacao town.
“The arson is a desperate move of the communist terrorists in Mindoro Island due to the AFP successes in the island province,” Chan said in a text message.
“It is also a diversionary tactic to ease pressure from our intense operations,” he added.
Chan said the suspects were immediately pursued by elements of the Army’s 68th Infantry Battalion under Lt. Col. Antonio Sugarol.
He lamented that the latest harassment could further derail the development projects in the said locality and deny employment opportunities for the local residents.
“These equipments are used in concreting the national highway in that place,” Chan said.
Meanwhile, earlier in the day, a suspected member of the NPA’s faction RPA/ABB (Revolutionary Proletariat Army/Alex Boncayao Brigade) was gunned down in Iloilo province.
A police report identified the victim as Jose Cabunagan, a native of Leon town.
Cabunagan was shot dead at around 9:15 am at Barangay Bagacay, Tigbanan town by more or less nine unidentified persons believed to be members of the NPA sparrow unit, the report said.
He sustained multiple gunshot wounds on the head and different parts of his body, causing his instantaneous death.
Responding policemen recovered from the crime scene 13 fired cartridge cases of 5.56 mm, three live ammunition of 5.56, and one live ammunition of 7.62mm.
Police is still investigating the motive of the incident./DMS
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