Military condemns NPA attack on Bukidnon pineapple farms

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 20): Military condemns NPA attack on Bukidnon pineapple farms

The military on Wednesday vehemently condemned the senseless attacks of the New People's Army (NPA) on Del Monte and Dole pineapple farms in Bukidnon which also resulted in the death of one security guard and wounding of three civilians Tuesday evening.

"The Bukidnon incident is a clear violation of the Government of the Philippines-National Democratic Front Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law. (Pineapple) plantations are not military installations nor camps. They are civilian workplaces within communities," 10th Infantry Division Civic Military Operation public affairs Major Jake Obligado said.

The NPA's act is also in violation of Part 4, Article 4 of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law in the Philippines (CARHRIHL) which prohibits both the military and rebels from attacking non-military targets.

About a hundred members of the New People’s Army (NPA) simultaneously attacked the main compound of Del Monte Philippines, Inc. (DMPI) in Camp Phillips, Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon and the compound of Dole Philippines in Impasug-ong town Tuesday, killing a security guard and injuring three others.

A report from the Army’s 4th Infantry Division based in neighboring Cagayan de Oro said some 50 members of the NPA’s Guerilla Front 89 under alias Bagwis, Piton, Ambo and Arche, launched the attack in DMPI.

Lt. Col. Osias, spokesperson of the 4th ID, said the rebels on board trucks, vans and motorcycles arrived in Camp Phillips at around 6 p.m. Tuesday and immediately proceeded to the Del Monte truck parking facility and burned a tractor, truck sprayer and a truck.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=&sid=&nid=&rid=499485