CANDELARIA, Zambales — Millions of pesos worth of heavy equipment were burned down by some 60 heavily armed men believed to be members of the New Peoples’ Army (NPA) in Barangay Pinagrealan, this town at dawn Saturday.
Reports said that at about 3:00 in the morning, the rebels torched a bulldozer, two backhoes, a truck and a rock drill owned by SinoPhil Mining Company.
After the incident, the rebels withdrew toward the direction of Acoje Mining site, at Barangay South Lucapon, in Sta. Cruz, Zambales upon sighting responding government troops.
Joint elements of the Candelaria Police Station, 314th Zambales Provincial Mobile Group and 23rd PNP-Special Action Force conducted pursuit operation against the retreating rebels.
Police are conducting follow-up investigation of the incident.
