GOVERNMENT forces have been sent to pursue New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas who staged several attacks early Wednesday in Bukidnon.
“Yes…ongoing…[pursuit operations were launched] immediately after the attacks were reported,” Lt. Col. Eugenio Osias, Army 4th Infantry “Diamond” Division spokesman, said.
He said the attacks launched by some 100 NPA rebels began in Sumilao at 6:30 a.m. and in Impasugong and La Fortuna towns 10 minutes later.
Osias said the targets were the Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. compound in Camp Phillips, Manolo Fortich town, and the Dole Food Co. Inc. compound in Impasugong.
Osias added that about 15 armed rebels were in each of the checkpoints they set up and that about 50 entered the Del Monte compound in three vans and an Isuzu Forward truck.
“Pagpasok na pagpasok, inisprayan lahat ng mga guardia. Patay ang isa, dalawa ang wounded. Sinunog nila iyong tractor, truck sprayer and other equipment,” Osias said, adding that the rebels also ransacked the offices, taking with them valuables, cellular telephones and computers.
He added that the rebels also placed spikes along Sayre Highway.
Osias said the rebels took the Dahilayan barangay chairman and four habal-habal drivers as human shield, “Kasi nakadikit nga yung tropa [ng 4ID]; so iyon ang ginawa nila para hindi makahabol [ang mga sundalo].”
He said the barangay chairman was released midmorning.
Osias said initial inventory revealed that the rebels were able to get a caliber .38 revolver from one of the security guards, and M-16 and an M-14 rifles from policemen they intercepted at the checkpoints.
“We were initially told it was armed robbery so the first responders were eight policemen.”
Osias added the 4ID initially cleared first the highway and secured Camp Phillips.
He said policemen have secured the crime scenes.
Investigators have yet to come up with an estimated cost of damage that Del Monte and Dole sustained.
While both multinational agricultural companies have pineapple plantations in Bukidnon, Del Monte said in its reports last year that it has decided to abandon its banana production.
On the other hand, Dole Food won in a lawsuit filed by 2,935 “plaintiffs claiming to be banana workers who had been injured from alleged exposure more than 30 years ago to the agricultural chemical DBCP.”
Osias said charges will be filed against the NPA rebels who participated in the attack for including civilians among the targets.
“By involving noncombatants in their operation, the NPA has violated international humanitarian law.”
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