Official killed as rebels storm banana farm

Manila: Philippine officials say communist rebels have stormed a banana farm associated with Dole Foods Co., and torched equipment before detonating a land mine that killed a village official.

Military spokesman Major Armand Rico says village officials and police tried to respond to yesterday's attack in southern Makilala town in North Cotabato province but their vehicle hit a mine planted by suspected rebels.

He says three policemen have been wounded.

Rico says the Dole farm had received an extortion letter and the raid was probably because of its refusal to pay so-called revolutionary taxes to the rebels.