CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Aug. 24, 2014) – A small group of communist rebels torched an agricultural aircraft used by Del Monte Philippines in the southern province of Agusan del Norte, the army said Sunday.
It said at least 5 New People’s Army rebels torched the small aircraft, owned by Philippine Agricultural Aviation Corporation, in the village of Dona Rosario in the town of Tubay. There were no reports of casualties in Saturday raid, according to Major Christian Uy, a spokesman for the 4th Infantry Division.
Uy said the rebels escaped on two motorcycles after the attack. “Del Monte is renting the aircraft from Philippine Agricultural Aviation Corporation,” he said, adding, the attack was probably connected to a failed extortion attempt.
Del Monte has banana and pineapple plantations in southern Philippines.
There was no immediate statement from Del Monte or the NPA on the raid, but the rebel group has been fighting for decades for the establishment of a Maoist state in the country.
Army Capt. Alberto Caber, a spokesman for the Eastern Mindanao Command, said 7 rebels also raided Saturday the Muzahamat Farm Incorporated in Compostela Valley’s Pantukan town and carted several weapons.
He said the rebels also torched farm equipment before fleeing. “The rebels have been attacking targeting farms, especially whose owners rejected extortion demands by NPA,” he said. (Mindanao Examiner)
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