Rebels burn RP cell phone station

Rebels burn RP cell phone station

PHILIPPINES: Communist guerrillas torched a mobile phone relay station south of the Philippine capital Manila in the latest of a series of attacks on civilian targets, the military said on Monday.

About 25 New People's Army (NPA) rebels surrounded a relay station of the Bayan Telecommunications Co. in Camarines Sur province on Sunday, disarmed the security guard, poured fuel on the station and set it aflame, a military report said.

In recent weeks, the NPA have stepped up attacks on civilian targets, destroying equipment in quarries near Manila and raiding police stations.

Armed forces chief Gen. Benjamin Defensor had ordered tighter security in all military camps to counter the renewed attacks, military spokesman Brig. Gen. Eduardo Purificacion said.

The military estimates the NPA ranks at around 10,000 fighters. --AFP