Filipino rebels attack Del Monte complex; 1 dead

MANILA, Philippines (AP) -- Philippine officials say more than 100 communist guerrillas stormed one of the world's largest pineapple plantations in the country's south, killing a guard, burning farm equipment and seizing firearms in their biggest attack so far this year.

Police say two other guards were shot and wounded by about 100 New People's Army guerrillas who barged into a residential, recreational and office complex on the vast plantation of Del Monte Philippines Inc. late Tuesday in Manolo Fortich town in Bukidnon province.

Army Lt. Col. Eugenio Osias said Wednesday that the insurgents separately attacked an office of another pineapple plantation in Bukidnon and blocked traffic in two nearby towns to prevent reinforcement troops from responding to the attack on Del Monte.

The 43-year Marxist rebellion is one of Asia's longest-running.

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