By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

A backhoe was destroyed late Thursday night after it was allegedly blown up by New People’s Army (NPA) rebels at Sitio Indakpan in Barangay Magballo, Kabankalan City.

Kabankalan City police said the said backhoe was operated by Galecon Construction Inc. and was being used to construct a bridge in the area.

Based on a statement provided by Purok President Hernanie Domingo, around 10:00 p.m., three armed men, who spoke in Cebuano, approached him and ordered he sit with them to “watch an explosion.”

A few seconds later, Domingo said he heard a loud explosion and saw a fireball arise.

He then saw the backhoe ablaze.

The purok official also said the explosion was strong and caused the ground to shake.

No one was wounded in the explosion as there were no workers in the area at the time of the incident. The suspects, meanwhile, immediately fled.

Police are now investigating the incident and are currently looking at extortion as the motive behind the attack./DGB, WDJ