Suspected NPA rebels torch backhoe in Palawan

Published December 11, 2012 9:31am

Police and military forces in Palawan province are now tracking down at least 20 suspected New People's Army (NPA) rebels who torched a backhoe in Taytay town.

The incident occurred in Pamantolon village in Taytay town, according to a report Tuesday by radio dzBB's Palawan affiliate James Viernes.

Only last Sunday, suspected NPAs also torched a backhoe of a mining company in Sofronio Española in Palawan.

In the Sofronio Española incident, armed men held employees of the mining company at gunpoint at Sitio Malalag and then burned the backhoe.

Authorities are not discounting extortion as a possible motive for the attack. The attacks came even as the Philippine military has mulled recommending a truce with communist rebels in time for Christmas.

Last year, President Benigno Aquino III approved an 18-day holiday truce which started December 16 and ended January 2 the following year.

When a SOMO (suspension of offensive military operation) is declared, government troops refrain from conducting offensive operations but are still on defensive mode.

Both the government and the Communist Party of the Philippines traditionally declare holiday truces, but sometimes differ on the duration. — RSJ, GMA News

Tags: newpeoplesarmy, cppnpa, insurgency, palawan