Kalinga guv forms task force to investigate backhoe burning

CITY OF TABUK, Kalinga -- Governor Jocel Baac has created Task Force Pamana Project-Allaguia to investigate the burning of a heavy equipment contracted to improve the Allaguia-Asibanglan provincial road.

Provincial police director Senior Superintendent Brent Madjaco was tasked to head the Task Force to look into the burning of a Volvo backhoe owned by the Randy Balbino Construction Company and Royal Seabees Construction at Sitio Bakwit, Allaguia, Pinukpuk on March 31.

The concreting and improvement project costing P32 million is under the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (Pamana) program of the Department of Interior and Local Government.

Pamana aims to extend development interventions to isolated, hard-to-reach, conflict-affected communities to ensure that they are not left behind.

Perpetrators remain at large after the Philippine National Police quoted barangay officials the alleged perpetrators are not members of the New People’s Army but somebody with claims on the project or might be an insider with bad sentiments on management. This was corroborated by the assessment of the 503rd Infantry Brigade.

Engineer Kenneth Marcelino, Project Engineer of Royal Seabees Construction, stated there was never any conflict between management and their employees since the start of the project.

Engineer Max Mayer Adong, who went to project site, urged barangay officials of Allaguia and Asibanglan to come out with their own investigation for deliberation during the meeting of the task force on Saturday.

Police in the province will maintain 24/7 patrol during the Holy Week to ensure security of the public including residences.

Madjaco said police visibility will be heightened along roads, churches, public terminals, parks and other public areas and appealed to the public not to get drunk to avoid accidents.

Records show that most of those who figured in accidents were under the influence of liquor. Meanwhile, Bureau of Fire (BFP)-Kalinga will deploy emergency response teams at sites along the Chico River under “Oplan River Watch.”

Sonny Esteban of BFP-Kalinga said trained rescue teams will put-up booths in accident-prone sites for immediate assistance in case of emergency. As a safety tip, the public is advised to avoid too much intoxicating drinks since most drowning accidents reported in the past were related to drunkenness. (Peter Balocnit and Larry Lopez /PIA–Cordillera)