The provincial command of the Philippine National Police has activated Task Force Amio to investigate the burning of  heavy equipment in Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental, recently.

Police reports showed two back hoes parked in the vicinity of the construction site in Amio, Sta. Catalina, and owned by the Legaspi Premium Development Corp. were set on fire by unidentified suspects.

Gov. Roel Degamo said the criminal act has greatly affected the rechanneling, deepening, construction of a protection dike in the Sicopong River, Barangay Amio, Sta. Catalina as well as the rehabilitation and construction of the river dike, deepening, rechanneling and protection dike of Amio river.

 Both projects costs P45 million each, all funded by the 5 percent calamity fund.

The same equipment were also used in the rehabilitation and improvement of the Pamplona-Fatima-Calicanan-Amio road worth P14.7 million, which is 60 percent complete.

Degamo said he believes the burning was intended to sabotage the project, and he urged the police to conduct a thorough investigation.

He said certain politicians are moving heaven and earth so he will not be able to deliver the goods and projects needed by constituents affected by Typhoon Sendong.

However, Degamo said, he remains focused on pursuing his plans and programs to develop the province.

PNP deputy provincial commander for operations, PSupt Alet Virtucio, said that several angles are being looked into to encourage more witnesses to help bring the perpetrators to justice.

Task Force Amio is composed of police personnel from the Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and the Police Crime Lab.*JG