Communist rebels raid Japanese banana farm

COMMUNIST rebels attacked a Japanese-managed banana plantation in Compostela Valley Thursday, setting fire to heavy equipment worth P5 million before fleeing with six firearms, the military said.

Lt. Col. Lyndon Paniza of the Army’s 10th Infantry Division said about 25 New People’s Army rebels disguised as soldiers surprised security guards at the Sumifru Corp. compound in Laak town in Compostela Valley.

He said they burned two trucks and the company’s radio communications room and fled with two shotguns, four .38-caliber revolvers taken from the security guards, and an electric generator. No one was hurt.

Sumifru is a joint venture between Philippine partners and Japan-based Sumitomo Corp.

The rebels earlier this month burned millions of dollars worth of equipment at three mining companies, also partly owned by Sumitomo, in Claver, Surigao del Norte.

Paniza said the latest attack was tied up with the NPA’s collection of the so-called revolutionary tax.

“It’s simply extortion by the NPA terrorists,” Paniza said. Florante S. Solmerin, with AP, Manila Standard Today