4 gunmen torch R2.5-M agri equipment in Isabela

Four armed men in camouflage jackets set at least three agricultural equipment owned by ECOFUEL Land Development, Inc. on fire in Barangay Babaran, Echague, Isabela the other night.

Chief Inspector Andy Orilla, local police chief, said the attack happened at 6:20 p.m. on Friday.

Tractor operator Jomar Aznan, 36, told police he saw the four men with long firearms arrive at Purok 1 of the village. He said they later torched three agricultural equipment, prompting him to flee the area.

Orilla said the assailants torched two tractors and one trailer owned by ECOFUEL, a company based in San Mariano, Isabela where it is developing an 11,000-hectare sugar plantation for a bioethanol plant.

The cost of damage was estimated at R2.5 million.

Senior Superintendent Mariano Rodriguez, Isabela Police Provincial Office (PPO) director, ordered a thorough investigation into the incident.