Martinez said the rebels burned two boom sprayer trucks, three dump trucks, a generating set and several firearms inside the compound.
Responding Army and police units arrested a suspected rebel identified as a certain Angelica Regasajo, an alleged NPA medic, during the follow-up operations.
The NPA North Central Mindanao unit took responsibility of the attack.
In a statement emailed to reporters, NPA spokesman Ka Malem Mabini said their forces seized a total of 22 firearms that include 12 M16 rifles, an M14 rifle, a sniper rifle, four shotguns, three caliber .45 pistols, a 9mm pistol, ammunition and communications equipment.
Mabini said aside from the heavy equipment, they also burned a warehouse full of toxic chemicals that were potentially harmful to residents.
He said the attack at the compound took only 40 minutes and all the NPA attackers were able to safely withdraw and elude Army pursuers.[]
He said they targeted the firm to remind them not to aggressively expand their operations in Quezon town, a farming community that mainly produced staple food like rice and corn.
“The revolutionary forces also aimed for environmental protection since [DAVCO] operates near a populated area. Land inundation and health hazards due to poisonous chemicals used by the said company are always imminent,” Mabini said.
The Army condemned the attack, saying it violated the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Law or CARHRIL signed by the government and National Democratic Front on March 16, 1998.[]
