Security guard of Sumitomo Fruits Corp. in S. Cotabato shot dead by NPA rebels

DAVAO CITY, Philippines—New Peoples’ Army rebels shot dead a security guard of a banana exporting company in T’boli, South Cotabato on Saturday evening after disarming him, a regional military spokesperson said.

Col. Leopoldo Galon, spokesperson of the military’s Eastern Mindanao Command based in Camp Panacan here said the victim, Lyndon Pasilan, was guarding one of the packing plants of banana company Sumitomo Fruits Corp. in Barangay (village) Lacunon when he was attacked past 6 p.m.

The rebels, whose number was not immediately known, fled with the victim’s 12-gauge shotgun, he said.

Pasilan’s companion, identified only as a Jane, was also wounded but it was not clear at the time how she got her injuries, Galon said.