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Sunday, August 24, 2003
NPA gets P1B from Diwalwal miners: ISAFP
By Ben O. Tesiorna
DAVAO -- The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) still considers the gold rush mountain of Diwalwal as a major source of funding by the communist rebel group despite the presence of army battalion in the area.
The Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines claimed that the New Peoples Army (NPA) earned as much as P1 billion from the revolutionary tax they get from the miners in Diwalwal.
Then ISAFP Chief, Victor Corpus said the rebels get as much as 30 percent of the net proceeds of a big mining company in Diwalwal while the rest are exacted with about 10 percent even from lowly prostitutes in the area.
Mt. Diwata Barangay Captain Franco Tito, however, denied the accusation. Tito said the miners are living the hard times these days that they cannot even afford to impart a fraction of their earnings to the rebels.
Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes said they still receive intelligence reports that the NPA's extortion activities in Diwalwal continue despite the intensified government efforts.
Reyes said this is one of the major reasons being considered in the creation of the National Task Force Diwalwal, which he heads.
He said the extortion activities by rebels are detrimental to national interest.
"Every government has the right to protect itself that's why we are strengthening our action since it is only thru government action could we put a stop to this NPA's illegal action," he said.
He added that if Diwalwal will be progressive the NPA will lose its' attraction automatically.
(August 24, 2003 issue)
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