MEMBERS of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) allegedly bombed a Dole Philippines, Inc. banana plantation in Compostela Valley, damaging an aircraft hangar and one of the company’s Cessna planes, the military said on Sunday.
“We are looking at extortion as the motive as banana plantations are favorite targets of the NPA,” First Lt. Vergel U. Lacambra, the public affairs officer of the Philippine Army’s nearby 10th infantry division, said.
The explosion at the bridge leading to the hangar airstrip entrance took place at 11 p.m., the company’s security officer reported.
Only two guards were on duty since it was nighttime, Mr. Lacambra said in an interview.
The Philippine Army’s 25th Infantry Battalion was immediately able to deploy troops since its patrol base was near the plantation in Maragusan in Compostela Valley.
The NPA “seemed to have plans to torch the building and cut down the banana trees. It was a good thing that the nearby patrol base was able to send some soldiers immediately because they fled,” Mr. Lacambra added.
Perpetrators are likely from the NPA’s Guerilla Front 27 Operations Command, which is known for torching and bombing facilities of businesses in their area which refuse to pay “revolutionary taxes.”
http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Nation&title=explosion-at-banana-plantation-damages-aircraft-hangar-plane&id=110945
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