Suspected NPAs torch heavy equipment in Kidapawan

KIDAPAWAN CITY– Suspected communist guerillas torched Sundaythree heavy equipment located in a hinterland village here, officials said. Acer Perez, chairman of Barangay Mua-an here, said at least 12 armed men on board six motorcycles arrived at the village and started to pour gallons of gasoline on the equipment and burned them at about 11:45 p.m. Few minutes after, the rebels started firing guns on the vehicles and left. Perez said that as the rebels started to withdraw from the area, they seized a barangay tanod identified as Tata Cardion, who, until now is still missing. Cardion’s shotgun is also missing, the village official added. The heavy equipment are owned by the Jargon Construction Company from M’lang town. The torching incident came just few hours after suspected New Peoples’ Army (NPA) rebels staged landmine attacks against personnel of the 57thInfantry Battalion of the Philippine Army in Barangay Balite, a hinterland in Magpet town. Two soldiers, Capt. Nasrullah Sema, commander of the Charlie Company of the 57thIB, sustained minor injury. Vinluan clarified Sema was hit on his foot, not by bomb shrapnel but due to an accident as he tried to jump from his motorcycle to cover from the blast.He is now out of danger, the 57thIB commander said. The arson incident in Kidapawan City, he explained, was part of the ‘extortion activities’ of the NPAs. The harassment against Jargon was the second this year.Few months ago, the rebels also harassed the construction firm.