NPAs took advantage
of the calamity in Eastern Samar, burns civilian’s heavy equipment
By DPAO, 8ID PA
December 10, 2014
CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar
– At least 20 fully armed NPA rebels swooped down at the
Hanjin-Yakal quarrying site at Barangay Vigan, Gen MacArthur, Eastern
Samar at around 9 AM of Dec 10, 2014. The burning occurred a few days
after the disaster brought about by typhoon “Ruby” where Eastern Samar
was the hardest hit by the typhoon.
Based on initial information
received by the 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army, a backhoe and
three dump trucks of the company along with seven workers were on
quarrying operations along the Binalay River of the aforementioned
barangay when more or less 20 fully armed NPA rebels swooped down the
quarrying site and took hold of the workers along with the heavy
equipment. After a brief talk with the workers, the NPAs ordered them
to vacate the area and leave the heavy equipment behind. Said heavy
equipment was subsequently burned by the NPA rebels.
The Hanjin-Yakal is a joint
venture owned by Millennium Challenge Account Philippines which
started construction projects in Eastern Samar in April 2013. It is
currently undertaking road widening project amounting to P19M from the
municipality of Llorente down to Guiuan, Eastern Samar in the south.
Currently, the construction firm has completed 30 percent of the
project.
It is very unfortunate that
the NPA rebels are still very incessant in imposing violence even
during calamities. It is very apparent that they have taken advantage
of the situation while rescue and relief operations in the area are
still on going. Velarmino further added, “Today the whole nation is
observing the culmination of the National Human Rights Consciousness
Week. It is sad to note that the NPAs insist on attacking vulnerable
civilian targets whose mission is to provide quality infrastructure
projects here in the province of Eastern Samar. Their actions only
bespeaks of their cruel intentions of denying the opportunity for
development in this part of the region.”
The 8th Infantry Division,
Philippine Army in coordination with the Philippine National Police
based in MacArthur, Eastern Samar immediately sent troops in the area
to pursue the perpetrators in the incident.