Communist rebels damage Dole Philippines property
Members of the communist New People's Army (NPA) allegedly set off two bombs at a Dole Philippines facility on Saturday night, in what the army speculates could have been an act of extortion.
Philippine Army 10th infantry division public affairs officer, First Lt. Vergel U. Lacambra, told website Bworldonline.com the attack occurred in the Compostela Valley on the island of Mindanao, damaging an aircraft hangar and a Cessna plane.
"We are looking at extortion as the motive as banana plantations are favorite targets of the NPA," Lacambra was quoted as saying, clarifying the attack may have been in response to the non-payment of "revolutionary taxes".
He told the publication the NPA appeared to plan torching the building and cut down banana trees, but thankfully the army's 25th Infantry Battalion was immediately on hand to deploy troops.
"It was a good thing that the nearby patrol base was able to send some soldiers immediately because they fled," Lacambra was quoted as saying.
Website Abs-cbnnews.com reported an unknown number of rebels entered the compound and detonated two improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
10th ID commander Maj. Gen. Eduardo Año vowed that action would be taken against the perpetrators, the story reported.
"These CPP-NPA's (Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army) banditry attacks against civilian entities, which are non-military targets, will not go unpunished," Año was quoted as saying.
Dole Philippines is owned by Japan's Itochu Corporation.
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