Troops hunting rebels for burning heavy equipment

By Mar T. Supnad

BAAY-LICUAN, Abra — Army troopers are now hunting a band of 20 New People’s Army rebels who torched construction equipment worth P6 million here at km 473 of the Abra-Kalinga Road for failing to pay “revolutionary tax.”

Brig. Gen. Hernando Iriberri, commander of the 503rd Infantry Brigade, said his men are now scouring the area following the June 29 attack on D&D Construction Co. owned by Bangued Mayor Dominic Valera.

Iriberri said the attack was carried out after the construction firm operators refused a demand by the rebels last May for “rebel taxes.”

The NPAs under Agustin Begnalen Command operating in Abra burned the back hoe of the firm around 12 midnight along Abra-Kalinga Road at Sitio Nagpaoayan, Barangay Subagan.

           

The D&D is now constructing the Abra-Kalinga Road.

Capt. Regie H. Go, information officer of 41ST Infantry Battalion, 5th Division, Philippine Army bared these saying Highway workers staying in the area said before the incident they saw about 20 fully armed men.

“They gathered them and threatened workers then commanded them to abandon the area immediately, Go said. “Frightened workers immediately left the area. Then after about five minutes the workers saw a big fire in the area.”

Prior to the incident, the NPA command reportedly tried to get revolutionary taxes from the construction company, which army personnel said, was extortion.

           

“The burning of said heavy equipment is the NPA’s way of punishing uncooperative victims. Their ruthless act showed they are against peace and development in Abra,” Go said.

This, as a report from regional police headquarters in Camp Dangwa, Benguet said the project implementor of the construction firm identified as 44-year-old Vicki Dawigen Sabian reported the incident to the police Sunday morning.

The equipment worth P6,000,000 was parked along the Abra-Kalinga road particularly at Km 473 sitio Nagpawayan, Baay-Licuan when it was torched.