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DAVAO, PHILIPPINES - COMMUNIST insurgents attacked an agricultural firm in the southern Philippines, burning down heavy equipment after disarming its private security guard, the military said on Sunday.
The New People's Army (NPA) gunmen attacked the compound of Caraga Filchin Corp near Davao City on southern Mindanao island under cover of darkness late on Saturday, regional army spokesman Major Arman Rico said.
They overpowered a lone security guard, took away his weapon, and burned down a crane before fleeing, Maj Rico said.
The attack came after the owner refused to pay illegal 'revolutionary taxes' demanded by the NPA, the armed unit of the underground Communist Party of the Philippines which has been waging a Maoist rebellion since 1969, Maj Rico said.
President Gloria Arroyo has ordered the military to crush the rebel force before she steps down in 2010, even as her ground commanders have earlier acknowledged the target could be unrealistic.
In their biggest and most daring attack in recent years, NPA guerrillas raided the popular tourist island of Siargao last month. The resulting clashes left two policemen and 15 guerrillas dead. -- AFP
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