Suspected rebels burn P7-M backhoe

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – Police claimed that the New People’s Army (NPA) was behind the burning of a backhoe worth P7 million in a quarry site at Sitio Nandong, Barangay Orong, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental last Wednesday.

Lieutenant Colonel Raymond Cruz, city police chief, said a watchman was checking all the backhoes parked at the quarry site when a group of armed men arrived.

Cruz said that one of them reportedly approached the watchman and asked him about the backhoes of two businessmen as the latter allegedly did not give them revolutionary taxes.

But the armed men found only one of the two backhoes they were looking for.

Two of the armed men then poured gasoline on the backhoe and set it on fire, Cruz said.

The perpetrators who were armed with long firearms then fled, leaving the watchman unharmed.

Cruz said the incident was reported late to the authorities.

Based on intelligence monitoring, Cruz said there had been previous rebel sightings in the area.

Police linked the incident to the rebels because on the statement of the watchman and the manner of the attack.