By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – An improvised explosive device (IED) damaged a backhoe at Sitio Cagay, Barangay Camindangan, Sipalay City, Negros Occidental last Thursday.
The incident happened four weeks after suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) allegedly burned a backhoe worth P7 million in a quarry site at Sitio Nandong, Barangay Orong, Kabankalan City on March 4.
Major James Latayon, city police chief, said that around 30 to 50 unidentified armed persons arrived and told the employees to vacate the area, while others served as lookout.
After a while, a blast was heard as the armed group left the area.
When employees checked the equipment, the explosion damaged the hydraulic system of the backhoe, Latayon said.
Latayon said the equipment is estimated at P8 million to 10 million, but the cost of damage has yet to be determined.
Latayon said the operator or owner of the construction firm has no threats prior to the incident.
Although there’s no confirmation yet, police do not discount the possibility that the NPA may have been behind the incident.
