Suspected New People’s Army rebels torched a backhoe after its owner reportedly refused to pay revolutionary tax in Sitio Nandong, Brgy. Orong, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, on Wednesday, March 2, the police reported Friday, March 4.
The backhoe was owned by a businessman whom the police identified only as a certain Emmanuel of Sitio Masinadyahon, Brgy. Binicuil, Kabankalan City.
A watchman of the quarry area saw a group of persons who were armed with high-powered firearms, while he was checking the heavy equipment in the place, the police report said.
One of the armed men approached the watchman and told him that the owner of the backhoe had not given in to their demands for payment of revolutionary tax, the report added.
Two suspects then poured gasoline in the driver’s booth of the backhoe and set it on fire, the police added.*