1 slain, 2 hurt in NPA-Army clash in Aurora

By Liam Anacleto

One person was killed and two others were wounded after suspected members of the New People’s Army attacked a construction firm in Aurora on Thursday.

Army reports said suspected rebels with high-powered firearms had burned a backhoe and a dump truck owned by Palacios Constructions in barangay Villa in Ma. Aurora town at about 9 a.m.

1Lt. Tala Servidad, spokesperson of the Army’s 7th division, said the NPA rebels were believed to be extorting money from the company, which is concreting a road that connects Metro Manila to Aurora.

Responding troops from the Philippine National Police and the Army’s 48th battalion were fired upon by the rebels, resulting in a firefight.

One person was killed while two others, including a policeman, were wounded during the incident.

The identities of the fatality and the wounded persons were not immediately available.

Servidad said the burned construction equipment cost about P9 million.

Brig. Gen. Gregorio Catapang, Jr., commander of the Army’s 7th division, has ordered pursuit operations in the area.

"We condemn this terroristic attacks against construction company. This tragic incident came when peace and development in Central Luzon is on the fast lane," Catapang said.