By Ariel Fernandez
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has received information that a suspected arson incident took place in the vicinity of the ongoing construction site of the Bicol International Airport (BIA) in Legazpi, Albay last July 26.
(DOTr / MANILA BULLETIN)
The alleged arson incident was allegedly carried out by five men armed with high-powered firearms and confirmed to be members of the New People’s Army (NPA). They were last sighted in Barangay Gapo, Daraga, Albay.
Base on the report some suspected NPAs conducted a checkpoint and waylaid a dump truck of Cuerpo Construction and burned it, forcing its driver to abandon the vehicle.
The military in pursuit was reported to have engaged in a firefight with the involved armed NPA elements.
Cuerpo Construction Company is one of the contractors for the ongoing construction of the New Bicol International Airport Complex, one of the gateways that the DOTr is building to boost air connectivity in the country.
Operatives from the Philippine Army were directed to proceed to the area for further investigation and possible identification of perpetrators.
The DOTr views this incident with deep regret, as this is not the first suspected arson incident in the area. Such attacks bring unnecessary delay to the fruition of the President’s transportation goals, most especially as DOTr has been working triple time to deliver infrastructure development in the hope of spurring regional growth and development.