COMMUNIST guerillas attacked the equipment of palm oil corporation Agumil Philippines Inc. on Wednesday, after it refused to give extortion money, an army official said.

Captain Al Anthony Pueblas, civil military officer of the 403rd Brigade, said nine fully-armed members of the New People's Army (NPA) torched a panel board, boiler, and one unit of portable pump owned by the said corporation in District 7, barangay Camagong, Nasipit, Agusan del Norte.

According to Pueblas, the company's security guard said the NPA were upset after not getting the extortion money they demanded.

“We really condemn the terrorists NPA for the continued attacks against the civilians and investors who are actually providing livelihood to the people and contributing to the economy of Nasipit,” Pueblas said.

“The company did not comply with the extortion money because they thought that if they give in, the NPA will ask them nonstop in the future, and they will now be part of the terrorists because in a way, they are supporting enemies of the state,” Pueblas added.

Before the burning incident, the outpost of the Provincial Public Safety Company also located in Barangay Camagong was harassed by alleged NPA rebels.

Ka Omar Ibarra, NPA spokesperson, immediately owned up the attacks, saying that the Agumil was targeted as it illegally expanded its palm oil plantation.