By Glazyl M. Jopson
BACOLOD CITY – The Leonardo Panaligan Command of the New People’s Army (LPC-NPA) claimed responsibility for burning heavy equipment in Barangay Aya, La Libertad, Negros Oriental, on Saturday night.
In a statement, the rebel group said it set fire to a dump truck, a road roller, and two backhoes.
An initial police investigation revealed that armed men used gasoline to torch the equipment. No injuries were reported.
The machinery was being used for the construction of a farm-to-market road.
However, the rebel group alleged that the project was not intended to benefit farmers but served a larger agenda.
JB Regalado, spokesperson of the LPC-NPA, claimed the development would provide access for large corporations to enter rural areas, paving the way for large-scale mining operations and commercial reforestation projects.
Police Lt. Stephen Polinar, public information officer of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (NORPPO), said the Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 in Central Visayas is investigating the incident.
The Philippine Army is also coordinating with the police in the probe.
