2 soldiers hurt as NPA rebels raid airport construction site in Albay
MANILA — Two soldiers were wounded as a group of New
People's Army (NPA) rebels raided an airport construction site in
Barangay Alobo, Daraga, Albay on Friday night, the military reported.
Col. Arthur P. Ang, 901st Infantry Brigade
commander, said eight rebels swooped down on the site and opened fire
on his 12 soldiers guarding the facility at around 9:35 p.m.
Despite the surprise attack, the soldiers were able to repulse the communist fighters.
Two
soldiers identified only as Pfcs. Gapayao and Cornal, both of the 2nd
Infantry Division, were wounded during the attack. They are now in
stable condition at a local hospital, Ang said.
The report said
two dump trucks, one backhoe, two articulated trucks, two payloaders,
two road rollers and one grader were torched by another group of rebels.
Some of the equipment were slightly damaged but could still be
functional and employed to complete the project being undertaken by
Sunwest Corporation.
Military authorities in the area said that the rebels resented the non-payment of revolutionary taxes by private contractors.
“Without our soldiers, all equipment and facilities on the site could have been totally destroyed,” Ang said.
He directed the 2nd Infantry Division to conduct pursuit operations.
“This
is a desperate move by the NPA rebels because Sunwest Corporation will
never concede to their extortion demands,” he said. (PNA)
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