Wednesday, July 23, 2008 Army reveals rebels' latest extortion scheme By Ruby P. Silubrico
THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), through 32nd Civil Relations Unit (CRU) Chief Lowen Gil Marquez, revealed Tuesday the newest extortion strategy of the New People's Army (NPA) in Western Visayas.
Marquez said they received information that the rebels, under the leadership of Concha Araneta of the Panay Terrorist Party Committee and Frank Fernandez of Negros Terrorist Party Committee, are now collecting P5 per family, P200 from every barangay officials, and two "gantas" of rice or corn per family.
This recent extortion scheme, according to Marquez, has been going on for almost a month.
He added that it's a clear indication the rebels are experiencing hunger in the mountains.
"They are doing this because they are pressured by Jose Maria Sison and Rogel Rosal. This is overwhelming because the farmers and the community have realized that the rebels are taking advantage of them and are subjected to extortion," Marquez said.
"We monitored that the extortion activities are mostly done in Central and Southern Iloilo and in Negros Occidental especially in Mosies Padilla and Barangay Guinhulngan where the masses are planning to hold a rally and file a case against the CPP/NPA/NDF (Communist Party of the Philippines/New People's Army/National Democratic Front) and Karapatan before the office of the Commission of Human Rights as well as in the court," he added.
Recently, an officer of the Southern Front Committee identified as Abgeor Matias of San Remegio, Antique surrendered to Chief Insp. Orly Gabinete of the Iloilo City Police Station 4 after years of staying in the mountains.
Matias is the assistant squad leader and assistant political guide of Squad 4, Platoon 1, of SFC under Napoleon Tumagtang Command.
