Officials said New People’s Army soldiers struck in the village of Daan Suyan in Malapatan town and failed extortion was likely motive of the attack.
“The construction equipment is being used in road projects by the local government,” Capt. Alberto Caber, a spokesman for the Eastern Mindanao Command, told the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner.
He said the rebels escaped after the burning the equipment, but Lt. Gen. Ricardo Rainier Cruz III, the regional army commander, deployed troops from the 72nd Infantry Battalion to pursue the raiders.
“I encourage everybody to help our soldiers and police elements in their efforts against NPA extortion and attacks on civilians and their properties. These attacks are a violation of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law,” Cruz said.
The rebel group, which is fighting for a separate state, is a signatory to the accord. (Mindanao Examiner)
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