Several heavy equipment units belonging to an unidentified construction firm manning a road widening project at a section of the Davao City-Gensan Road were torched by suspected NPA rebels in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur.

According to SecurityMatters sources, armed men believed to be communist rebels simultaneously burned two road-building heavy equipment along the national highway at around 9 p.m. on Saturday.

A driver and a conductor of a YBL bus traveling the route said a road grader was still on fire in Barangay Coronon while a pile hammer machine was still smoldering at the expanded bridge in Barangay Tagabuli not far from Franklin Baker Company when they passed by the area.

The two said they spotted soldiers inspecting both fire scenes, which were only a few kilometers from the headquarters of the 39th Infantry Battalion of the 1003rd Infantry Brigade.

Meanwhile, a separate report cited that the simultaneous burning incidents razed a total of four backhoes, two graders, a crane, and a dump truck.

Guerilla Front Committee 51 of the Southern Mindanao Regional Committee (SMRC) CPP-NPA, which operates in the area, is believed to be responsible for the arson attack

Authorities believe extortion is the motive behind the attack.