P20-M construction equipment torched in S. Cotabato

SOUTH COTABATO, Philippines – Unidentified armed men burned around P20 million worth of construction equipment in Barangay Topland, Koronadal City before dawn yesterday.

Superintendent Nestor Salcedo, director of Koronadal City police, said the suspects stormed the equipment depot of a construction firm owned by Fernando Bascon, and immediately set a payloader, a stone crasher and a bulldozer on fire.

The group also tried but failed to burn more road-building equipment in a nearby compound, owned by the Happy Living Construction Co., due to a sudden downpour.

Police are still investigating the motive for the attack.