Police said the suspects, armed with long firearms, poured gasoline on a crane link belt owned by LRTIQUI Builders Inc., stationed along Bongabon- Rizal Road and set it on fire at about 12:15 a.m.
PO3 Gerald Paul Cayog, investigator, said two caretakers, two village peacekeepers and a village councilor were in the area when five heavily armed men came from nowhere and warned them of harm should they intervene. “Huwag kayong makialam, mga NPA kami,” witnesses quoted the suspects as saying.
The warning was followed by a burst of fire skyward air as some of the suspects who brought with them plastic containers poured gasoline to the heavy equipment.
The suspects immediately fled, taking the direction of Old Palomaria to the mountainous portion of Barangay Arriendo, Cayog reported.
Members of the Bongabon Fore bVolunteers who responded declared fireout at about 12:25 a.m. Lawmen recovered empty shells from an M16 Armalite rifle, .9mm and .45 pistols, police said.
Elements of the town police and the Philippine Army’s 703rd Brigade based in Barangay Calaanan, also of this town, are conducting hot pursuit operations against the suspects, police added.
This was the latest in a series of attacks on private contractors in this town. Recently, a backhoe owned by a certain Reguyal Construction was also burned by suspected rebels.
