WORKERS of a construction company stopped an attack by the New People's Army (NPA) rebels in Barangay Cabangahan, Malaybalay City around 2:30 a.m. Thursday, June 6.
Captain Ryan Layug, civil-military officer of the 403rd Infantry Brigade, said employees of Venray construction were awakened with an unusual noise and saw their company's Bonggo truck lit by fire.
The employees were able to drive away the NPA rebels, he said.
Layug said the employees doused the fire with water and fire extinguisher, preventing it from spreading toward nearby Grader and Backhoe.
A fire truck from Barangay Aglayan arrived minutes later to completely stop the fire.
Witnesses saw the perpetrators riding eight motorcycles and fleeing southward.
Brigadier General Edgardo De Leon, 403d Brigade commander, condemned the attack and asked the NPA leadership to explain it.
De Leon said investigators are now focused on gathering information for the filing of appropriate case against the communist rebels.
The military said the case will be filed at the Commission on Human Rights and at Regional Trial Court Branch 25, the special court designated to try international humanitarian law case.
De Leon also urged the militant rights group Karapatan to do a parallel investigation.
Major General Nemesio Gacal, 4ID commander, lauded the workers for driving away the NPA rebels.
"This is the real essence of the 'whole of nation' approach in preventing the communist NPA terrorists from sowing chaos in our place. This incident proves that the local communists terrorists are no match to people who unite and resist, even if the people are unarmed," Gacal said.
Recently, a certain Pia Alonzo, who claimed to be an NPA spokesperson, was quoted as claiming responsibility over the strafing of barangay tanods in Sto. Niño, Manolo Fortich last week.
They also claimed responsibility for the explosion of anti-personnel mines in Impasug-ong, Bukidnon that hit a convoy carrying foreigners. (PJ Orias)