This past weekend, angry owners of vast tracts of land leased by a fruit-exporting company cut down thousands of banana plants within the firm's plantation in Tboli town, South Cotabato. The incident, affecting 10 hectares, took place within the plantation of the fruit exporter Sumifru Philippines Corporation.
It was the most recent in a series of confrontations between the company and owners of the properties Sumifru leased for 25 years for their banana plantation in Tboli and Surallah towns, South Cotabato. The cutting of banana plants was a retaliation by landowners after Sumifru guards dismantled barricades that were set up to protest and demand that the company make good on its promise to pay the taxes for the properties leased to Sumifru.
Around 80% of the Sumifru banana plantation is rented by the company from Tboli landowners, while the rest are company-owned. One landowner told authorities who arrived to intervene in the cutting of banana plants, said they would only stop cutting if the company also halts its operations and talks with them.
Source: rappler.com