Thursday, July 24, 2008
Kidapawan:Rebels raid banana plantation: 1 dead, 3 hurt (2 p.m.)
By Malu Cadelina Manar
KIDAPAWAN CITY -- Communist rebels attacked a banana farm associated with Dole Foods Co. Thursday and a land mine hit a security vehicle rushing to intervene, killing one and wounding three others, the military said.
Village officials and police tried to respond to the pre-dawn plantation attack in southern Makilala in North Cotabato province, but their vehicle hit a mine planted by suspected rebels, said regional military spokesman Maj. Armand Rico.
Authorities identified the perpetrators as members of the Herminio Alfonso Command of Front 52 of the NPA operating in Makilala and other hinterlands areas in North Cotabato.
The attack came two days after President Arroyo visited Makilala town where she was briefed about the situation of the rubber industry in North Cotabato.
Insp. Ramel Hojilla, Makilala police chief, said after the rebels burned the packing plants, they blasted off a landmine planted 50 meters away from the site that hit the multi-cab where village councilman Ricky Apolinario of Barangay San Vicente, also in Makilala, and three others were onboard.
Apolinario, chair of the Committee on Peace and Order of Barangay San Vicente, died on the spot due to multiple shrapnel injuries.
Hojilla identified those wounded in the landmine blast as PO1 Brixtol Catalan of the Makilala police; village guard Nino Manlique of Barangay San Vicente; and a certain Moreno.
The multicab driven by Apolinario was part of the convoy that proceeded to the area to check the report.(Sun.Star Davao) |
