Leftist rebels have struck anew in southern Philippines, burning several heavy equipment of a construction company owned by a Chinese-Filipino businessman late Tuesday, police on Wednesday said.

About 200 heavily-armed New People's Army rebels swooped down on the compound of Concepcion Basic Builders Inc. in Poblacion village, San Miguel town, Surigao del Sur province and set on fire two dump trucks, a pay loader, an excavator, a truck crane and several generators and welding machines around 10:00 pm Tuesday local time.

According to Supt. Martin Gamba, spokesperson of Caraga regional police office, the firm, owned by Chinese-Filipino businessman Arthur Ong, is working on a bridge project in the area. The guerrillas rounded up company employees and confiscated their cell phones during the attack, although they were not harmed.

Gamba said the rebels damaged some 20 million pesos ($476,000) worth of equipment. He alleged the attack was led by a certain Rodel of NPA's Front 30.

Government troops are pursuing the rebels.

The 4,000-strong NPA, armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, is fighting a 43-year leftist insurgency in 60 Philippine provinces.