(The Philippine Star) | Updated February 28, 2017 - 12:00am
BUTUAN CITY,
Philippines – Communist rebels attacked last Saturday the compound of the
proposed site for a hydroelectric power plant in Valencia City that President
Duterte had visited during its groundbreaking last December.
At least 20 armed New
People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas took the mobile phones of the workers inside the
compound of the 10.6-megawatt Pulanai Hydroelectric Power Plant at Zone 11,
Hangaron, Barangay Lumbayao.
Military officials said
that according to witnesses, the NPA rebels fired several warning shots after
laying some improvised explosive devices (IEDs) inside the compound.
Members of the Army’s
Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) later arrived to deactivate the IEDs.
The President had
attended the groundbreaking ceremony of the Pulanai hydropower plant, owned and
operated by Repower Energy Development Corp., last Dec. 10.
The plant is one of the
power generation facilities envisioned to provide electricity and boost
economic activity in the area.
At around 10 p.m. that
same day, another NPA unit burned down two trucks and one trailer owned by the
Davao Agri-Venture Corp. (DAVCO) that produces pineapples in Barangay
Merangiran, Quezon, Bukidnon.
The rebels also took
the firearms and mobile phones of the security guards.
According to Capt.
Patrick Martinez, spokesman for the Army’s 4th Infantry Division (ID), company
officials refused to pay revolutionary tax to the NPA.
Maj. Gen. Benjamin
Madrigal Jr., 4ID commander, lambasted the NPA attack and promised that there
will be no letup in pursuit operations against the rebels.
In Misamis Oriental, a
soldier was killed during clashes with communist guerrillas yesterday.
Capt. Joe Martinez, of
the Army’s 4th ID, confirmed that one soldier not immediately identified was
killed in a firefight in Barangay Kaulayanan in Sugbong Cogon, Misamis
Oriental.
Meanwhile, a government
soldier was wounded after an encounter with NPA rebels yesterday in Malimono,
Surigao del Norte.
Lt. Col. Rico Amaro,
commander of the Army’s 30th IB, said the soldiers clashed with rebels in
Barangay Tinago.
Two NPA rebels were
reportedly killed in separate incidents in Lian, Batangas and Bonbon, Northern
Samar. – With Arnell
Ozaeta, Miriam Desacada
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