NPA rebels harass banana firm in ComVal; AFP-NPA clash reported in Davao Occidental

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 6): NPA rebels harass banana firm in ComVal; AFP-NPA clash reported in Davao Occidental

The Army reported on Monday that undetermined numbers of New People’s Army (NPA) rebels attacked a banana plantation on Sunday evening in the province of Compostela Valley.

Captain Rhyan Batchar, chief information officer of 10th Infantry (Agila Division) said NPA rebels on board five motorcycles assaulted a banana plantation owned by DOLE Stanfilco in Sitio Sto. Niño, Barangay Araibo, Pantukan town.
The rebels then burned the packing plant inside the plantation, Batchar added.

No one was reported hurt during the attack but the burning caused the banana plantation around P1 million in damages, he added.

In the same report, the 10th ID also said an armed confrontation occurred between elements of 73rd Infantry Battalion and undetermined number of NPA rebels in Sitio Kisoy, Barangay Little Baguio, Malita, Davao Occidental.

Batchar said the incident took place 10:20 a.m. on Monday, February 6.

No casualties were reported on the government side while pursuit operation is still on-going in the area, he added.

"We are guided by President Duterte's pronouncements in dealing with the NPA rebels, who continue to attack civilian targets,” Major General Rafael C. Valencia, commander of 10th ID said in a statement.

He added that operations are underway to target armed terror groups including the NPA, saying further that "We will not allow the NPA, which was never a people’s army to continue sowing fear and terror on the people.”

Meanwhile, Batchar also reported the surrender of an improvised explosive device (IED) made by a supporter of the NPA in the province of Davao Oriental.

He said that a team leader of NPA supporters in Barangay Lambog, Manay town handed over to 67th IB troopers an IED on Sunday afternoon, February 5.

The said IED was turned in to the EOD team for proper disposition, Batchar added.