BUKIDNON NEWS | MANOLO FORTICH BUKIDNON – Roughly 50 members of the New People’s Army (NPA) attacked the Del Monte compound in Camp Phillips, Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon Tuesday evening, leaving 1 civilian and 3 rebels dead.

Army officials told Bukidnon News blog Bukidnon Online that one security guard died. The casualty remains unidentified.

Bukidnon board member Atty. Nemesio Beltran, Jr., on the other hand, told Bukidnon Online that 3 cadres or NPA members died after the gun fight.

Authorities also confirmed with Bukidnon Online that the rebels, led by a certain Jorge “Ka Oris” Madlos, burned a Del Monte-owned gas station and a Del Monte-owned truck. Rebels also reportedly stole medicine from the barangay hall of Barangay Dahilayan, Manolo Fortich.

Beltran added that Barangay Dahilayan captain Sahonlay was also held hostage by the rebels. No news yet if he has been freed.

Reportedly, Ka Oris claimed via a CDO radio station phone interview that their group targeted Del Monte for allegedly aggravating “climate change” and for allegedly causing Typhoon Sendong. The said typhoon hit Northern Mindanao in December 2011 and left thousands dead, homeless and injured.

A well-known Camp Phillips landmark, a giant Del Monte concrete pineapple, was also destroyed. Photo below courtesy of Alvin Cempron. (BukidnonOnline.com)

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