DAVAO CITY — The New People’s Army (NPA) is earning up to PHP1 billion from money extorted from agricultural and mining operations in the operational area of the Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom).
Eastmincom commander, Lt. Gen. Benjamin Madrigal, said the estimated amount is based on intelligence information gathered by their operational units.
The money collected as revolutionary taxes is from agri-industrial firms especially the banana plantations, mining operators, transport sector, business firms and other individuals.
“That is why we need to stop this because with these funds they generate they can produce more firearms,” Madrigal said.
Madrigal said the military continues in engaging stakeholders to discourage the business and industry sectors from giving in to the NPA’s extortion demands.
“Ang tawag sa scheme na yan ay revolutionary tax or Rebolusyonaryong Buwis sa Kaaway na Uri (RBK) (That scheme is called revolutionary tax or Revolutionary Tax for the Enemy) which means if the group is collecting money from a certain business then they are treating them as the rebels enemy,” he added.
Madrigal said the military is engaging with the business and industry sectors to advise them how to deal with the issue.
He said among the measures that can be taken by these sectors are investing on security of equipment and preparation for their projects as well as active collaboration with law enforcement authorities.
“They should ask for our soldiers help so that the projects will not be delayed kasi may iba hindi nila alam o kung papaano o kanino magsasabi (because some of them do not know how or whom they’ll report to),” he added.
Earlier, President Rodrigo Duterte said the NPA rebels are victimizing the lowly farmers in the rural areas. The NPA rebels are contributory to the high prices of goods from the farms because of their extortion activities.
It may be recalled that banana growers have called on the government to put an end to the extortion activities of the NPA which have been taking a toll on their livelihood.
Meanwhile, Madrigal said there are about 1,000 to 1,500 NPA rebels within the operational area of the Eastmincom.
“That is why we need to be successful in combating the NPA,” Madrigal said. (PNA)
