Suspected NPA rebels storm barracks of fruit company in Davao

Communist guerrillas in Davao Oriental province say they will shift from combat to providing free labor for farmers once the ceasefire with the government is reinstated. —KARLOS MANLUPIG

DAVAO CITY – Suspected New People’s Army rebels, numbering about 80, stormed the guard house and barracks of fruit company- Lapanday Foods Corp. – in Barangay Mandug here around 3:30 a.m. Saturday.

The suspected rebels then conducted a checkpoint and prevented people from passing by the area, Chief Insp. Teresita Gaspan, the city police spokesperson, said.

Gaspan said the police had already sent enforcers to the hinterland village, which is more that 30 kilometers from the city proper.