Suspected Reds burn mining firm equipment in Camarines Norte

By Ronron
October 4, 2007

Suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) raided a mining firm in Camarines Norte province and burned several equipment last Wednesday, the police and military said yesterday.

According to a police report, more or less 100 armed rebels stormed the Eldore Mining Corporation at Barangay Domagmang in Labo town at around 3:30 pm and went on to burn four vehicles, drilling equipments, and a generator set.

They also took computer sets, cellular phones, company firearms, and other office equipment before fleeing towards the mountainous area of said barangay, the police and military said.

The incident lasted for no more than 30 minutes, said Armed Forces Southern Luzon command spokesman Maj. Randolph Cabangbang.

He said the rebels struck at a time when there were still employees inside the compound.

Cabangbang disclosed that Eldore is an Australian firm, although no foreign nationals were inside the compound at the time of the raid.

He said there was no firefight since the company guards were caught by surprise, and immediately overpowered.

Cabangbang said the damages left by the rebels could be worth “millions” of pesos.

There was no reported casualty in the incident, which, according to Cabangbang, is born out of the NPA’s plain extortion activities.

“We cannot even call it a revolutionary tax issue anymore because the NPA is not fighting for any cause anymore. It was a plain robbery and arson, because of extortion,” Cabangbang said.

“And whether or not the company will give in to the extortion demand, the NPA is bound to sabotage it because that is for development and they resent any developmental activities,” he added.

Last month, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered the military and police to step up their operations and defenses against the NPA so as to ensure a conducive environment for business and investments.

The 7,100-strong NPA has threatened to intensify their attacks against private and government installations following the arrest of communist founding chairman Jose Maria Sison in the Netherlands last August 28.

The government has vowed to end the insurgency movement by 2010 when Arroyo ends her term.

Peace talks with the communist movement bogged down in August 2004 after its groups and officials were tagged as terrorists by foreign governments./DMS