Rebels raze cell sites in Bulacan and Angeles

By Jeannette I. Andrade, MT Reporter

Suspected members of the New People’s Army launched on Thursday night separate offensives on Globe Telecom cellular sites in Bulacan and Angeles City, blowing up one and attempting to burn down the other.

Reports reaching the Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame said the first incident happened at around 7:30 p.m., Thursday, at the Globe cell site on Santol Street, Barangay Tabun, Angeles City.

Some eight heavily armed rebels attacked the installation and attempted to burn down the radio room. However, the room was locked. The group instead burned down the generator.

The communist rebels disarmed the security guard on duty, Reynaldo Tolentino, of his caliber 38 revolver before fleeing aboard a gray van as elements of the Angeles City Police Station 3 were dispatched to the scene.

Tolentino told investigators that the suspects said the attack was for the failure of Globe Telecom to give revolutionary tax. Damage to property as a result of the attack was estimated at P3,000.

The second incident occurred at around midnight yesterday at the Globe cell site located near the boundary of Hagonoy, Bulacan, and Macabebe, Pampanga.

Reports indicate that at least 15 heavily armed rebels placed explosive charges around the cell site before simultaneously detonating them. The rebels fled after the blast.

No casualties were reported