DAVAO CITY — The Philippine Army vowed to put an end to the extortion activities of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Diwalwal mining area in Monkayo, Compostela Valley.
This developed after the ball mill owners, miners and tunnel operators promised to stop giving money to the NPA, which reportedly earns an estimated PHP24 million per month from Diwalwal miners.
At the AFP-PNP press corps briefing at the Royal Mandaya Hotel on Wednesday, Capt Jerry Lamosao, spokesperson of the Army’s 10th Infantry Division, said that based on the statements of ball mill owners, the collected “revolutionary tax” would be divided to each of the NPA’s six guerilla fronts operating in the Davao Region and parts of Sarangani, Surigao and North Cotabato.
During last week’s meeting of the government agencies and the security sector with the ball mill operators in Diwalwal, Lamosao said the miners promised to stop giving money the NPA. The meeting was also convened to get the support of the miners for the transfer of the ball mill plants to another area.
If the miners stick to their pledge, Lamosao said the NPA will lose one of its biggest sources of funds, pointing out that extortion activities keep the rebel organization afloat. (Lilian C. Mellejor/PNA)
