BUTUAN CITY , Philippines – Unidentified armed men raided a banana plantation reportedly owned by Dole Philippines in Tagbina town in Surigao del Sur on Friday, police reported yesterday.
Authorities said this was not the first time for the company’s banana farm in the province to suffer attack from suspected New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas.
Dole Philippines is a subsidiary of the Dole U.S.A. operating several banana, papaya, pineapple and other fruit plantations in Mindanao.
It was not known if Friday’s attack was perpetrated by the NPA as authorities were still investigating the incident.
Reports said a security officer identified as Almer Avelino discovered the destruction and reported the incident to the Tagbina police.
The attackers reportedly chopped down ready-to-harvest bananas worth P58,000.