Suspected New People's Army rebels raided a construction site in Surigao City and burned four heavy equipment there Thursday night, a police report said Friday.

The report said 30 suspected NPA rebels burned a Komatsu backhoe, a TCM pay loader and two dump trucks used at the construction site of a Gaisano Mall in Barangay Luna around 9:45 p.m.

Caraga Police Regional Director Chief Supt. Reynaldo S. Rafal and Philippine Army’s 30th Infantry Battalion commanding officer Col. Erwin Rommel Lamzon both confirmed the report in an interview with GMA News on Friday.

According to the report, the four heavy equipment were owned by a certain Enrique Baguio and were hired by the Tinio Construction, a contractor of Gaisano Capital Mall project in Barangay Luna.

Lamzon told GMA News that the NPA rebels seized the heavy equipment, poured gasoline on them and torched them.

He said the attackers were wearing camouflage uniforms and were heavily armed.

After the attack, the suspects fled towards nearby coastal Barangay Silop, he added.

In a separate interview, Rafal said joint military and police operation is ongoing against the attackers.

Rafal said he has already ordered Surigao City police chief Inspector Rudy Elandag to immediately conduct investigation of the incident for the possible filing of criminal charges against the suspects. — Ben Serrano/LBG, GMA News