MANILA, Philippines - This refers to an article entitled “Gang members, Del Monte worker killed” written by Edith Regalado which appeared in the Nov. 24, 2009 issue of the Philippine STAR. The said article reported that “a farm worker of the Del Monte Philippines, Inc.” was one of the three persons killed in an encounter with law enforcers in Baungon, Bukidnon. The article further identified said worker as one Jose Cantero, “a civilian worker of the Agrinanas department of DMPI.”
Please be informed that DMPI does not have an employee named Jose Cantero as identified in the article, or any employee or worker who was involved in any such encounter or similar incident with police authorities. Moreover, DMPI does not have an Agrinanas department. But we know for a fact that there is a company named Agrinanas Development Co. Inc. operating in Baungon, Bukidnon. The writer might be referring to that company, which is not affiliated in any way with Del Monte Philippines Inc.
In view of the foregoing, we respectfully request that an erratum be issued rectifying the mistaken reference to DMPI in said article. — DAVID T. ESCARDA, Group Head, Corporate Human Resource, Del Monte Philippines, Inc