DAVAO CITY (Mindanao Examiner / 06 Jun) – An unidentified gunman killed a banana plantation executive in an attack in the southern Philippines, police said.
Police said Claudio Mala, operations manager of the Stanfilco Dole, was shot in the head while walking near the plantation in the village of San Vicente in Davao del Norte’s Panabo City.
The attack occurred on Monday, police said, but no individual or group claimed responsibility for the killing of the 55-year old manager.
The motive of the murder is still unknown, police said. The province is a known lair of communist insurgents.
Late last year, the New People’s Army accused the Japanese-owned banana packing company AJMR-Sumitomo Fruit Corporation of unfair labor practice after some 200 workers went on strike.
The workers were demanding that the AJMR-Sumitomo, previously owned by the Stanfilco Dole, recognize their union so they can negotiate for fair wages and other labor benefits. (Romy Bwaga)
