Reds torch Globe tower in Aurora
By JESS MALABANAN / ABS-CBN News | 11/03/2008 4:01 PM
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CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga - Suspected New People's Army guerrillas torched a relay and transmission tower of Globe Telecoms in Casiguran, Aurora last Saturday, police said.
Sketchy police reports said the rebels stormed the cellsite past 9 p.m., Saturday and disarmed the security guard on duty before setting the entire place on fire.
Senior Superintendent Romeo Teope, provincial director of the Aurora Provincial Police Office, said more than 30 armed men clad in military fatigues forced their way inside the compound and poured highly flammable liquid inside the transmission office.
The rebels also took the service firearm of the security guard identified as Joseph Balbuena Disabille before fleeing.
Teope said a big portion of the transmission tower including the panel board and electrical wirings and generator set were partially damaged.
Police investigators said the guerrillas might have attacked the cellsite due to Globe's continuing refusal to pay "revolutionary taxes."
Meanwhile, unidentified gunmen looted firearms deposited at the guardhouse of the Aurora State College and Technology in Maria Aurora, Aurora province on Sunday.
Danilo Padua, 40, of Barangay Banco, Maria Aurora town, said a 12-gauge shotgun, and a caliber 38 revolver were taken from the guardhouse. He said the incident occurred while he was patrolling the upper floor of the college staff house.
Police blamed the theft on communist guerrillas operating in the province.
