NPA rebels bomb globe cellular site in Negros

MANILA, Philippines - At least 10 suspected New People's Army (NPA) rebels bombed and destroyed a Globe Telecom cellular site in Escalante City in Negros Occidental over the weekend. Online news site Visayan Daily Star reported Monday that the incident occurred Saturday night in Mabini village in Escalante City. Escalante police director Chief Inspector Santiago Rapiz said the suspects entered the compound by destroying the cyclone fence of the unmanned and isolated facility. They then placed a bomb that exploded and destroyed the power room of the cellular site. However, the facility's tower was not damaged. Last September, the NPA's Roger Mahinay Command claimed responsibility for the destruction of a Globe Telecom transmitter in Cauayan, Negros Occidental. Rapiz cited information from the facility's security staff that they received threats the facility will be bombed if Globe ignores demands for revolutionary taxes. He also admitted to have received a text message saying that the NPA was responsible for the destruction, as punishment for the firms failure to give in to the rebels’ demands. Escalante policemen headed by Rapiz, reinforced by other government units, arrived at the bombing site more than two hours after the incident. But they also did not discount the possibility that the incident could be a "diversionary ploy" of the rebels to ambush them. Negros Occidental provincial police chief Senior Superintendent Manuel Felix condemned the bombing, saying the act was counter-productive. Investigation showed that before the bombing, occupants of a house about 10 meters away from the transmitter, were advised to vacate the area. Policemen in northern Negros have been placed on alert since last month, in connection with an intelligence report that the NPA may also stage a rescue of detained rebel amazon Mary Grace Delicano. - GMANews.TV