Del Monte to NPA: ‘Why such acts of violence?’

The Del Monte Philippines, Inc. (DMPI) management said it was unaware of the reasons why the New People’s Army (NPA) attacked its compound Tuesday, saying they had been providing gainful employment to thousands of residents in Bukidnon’s 10 municipalities.
In a press statement e-mailed to MindaNews Wednesday, lawyer Ramon Velez, DMPI senior manager, said company operations were not affected by the attack.
“It is unfortunate that this incident happened and we are unaware of the reasons why the rebels committed such acts of violence,” he added.
Jorge Madlos, NDF Mindanao spokesperson, said in an interview over Magnum FM CDO on Tuesday evening that the NPA launched the attacks to send a message that DMPI has to stop operations, blaming the firm for the big damage wrought by Typhoon Sendong in Cagayan de Oro in December 2011.
Madlos said “pineapple plantations in Bukidnon” worsened the impact of the storm. He said DMPI and Dole Philippines are the same multinational corporations that allegedly abused laborers, amassed large plantation areas that could have been subjected to land reform, and damaged the environment. “This is our way to search for justice for the Sendong victims,” he said.
Madlos warned of more attacks if DMPI and other agribusiness companies do not heed their call for moratorium of expansion of plantations. “If they agree not to expand their areas, we might reconsider the attacks,” he said.
He cited the fast expansion of the two plantations and added Sumifru, another agribusiness firm, is also on its list. He said these firms should vacate the areas so these can be subjected to land reform.
Velez said their firm has been operating in Bukidnon for 87 years and has provided gainful employment to over 20,000 people across 10 municipalities.
“Del Monte has undertaken numerous socio-civic projects that continue to improve the lives of many families in the province,” he added.
In his account, Velez said that at around 6 p.m. on February 19, about 100 heavily armed men belonging to the New People’s Army attacked DMPI’s plantation office and truck yard in Camp Phillips, Manolo Fortich town. [Walter I. Balane / MindaNews]