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Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Communist rebels intensify extort bid in polls: Army
By Lizanilla J. Amarga and Stephen Capillas
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY –- Communist rebels are intensifying not just their attacks but are expanding their collections of “permit to campaign” fees from candidates for the upcoming 2007 synchronized Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Elections.
Major Samuel Sagun, Armed Forces' Fourth Infantry Division public affairs officer, said they have observed how the communist NPA -- the armed-wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines-National Democratic Front (CPP-NDF) -- are intensifying their attacks anew.
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Sagun’s disclosure came amid last Sunday’s raid by a reported 200 communist New People's Army (NPA) rebels of a municipal police precinct near the Balintaktakan Bridge in Cantillan town and in adjacent Carasscal town, Surigao del Norte.
The raid resulted in the confiscation of more than 20 firearms and the wounding of police officers Quirino Liquido and Arvin Arreza, said Colonel Jose Vizcarra of the Army’s 401st Infantry Brigade.
Extortions
Sagun cited how "more extortions" are now being especially undertaken by the rebels.
This, he said, is not just against private companies in the form of "revolutionary tax" but also "permit to campaign" fees from candidates for the synchronized Barangay and SK Elections, which is slated this October 29.
He added: "Their (communists) extortions, which has become their daily chore, has expanded to include permits to campaign again."
Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro however failed to contact NDF-North Central Mindanao spokesman Cesar Renerio for his comment as of this writing Monday.
Pursuit
The military has sent troops to pursue the communist rebels responsible for the raid at the Cantillan municipal police precinct.
In a press statement e-mailed by the communist rebels to local media outlets, they cited alleged illegal logging operations in Cantillan town as the reason behind their raid there.
Lieutenant Colonel Eric Vinoya, commanding officer of the Eighth Infantry Battalion, said they have intensified their own monitoring and patrol of identified hotspots of rebel activities in their area of jurisdiction.
"Areas like the towns of Claveria and Balingasag as well as Gingoog City and those in Bukidnon provinces are being observed closely and we are ready to move in," Vinoya said in a radio interview.
The Fourth ID through its commanding officer Major General Jose Barbieto said they have recently signed a memorandum of agreement strengthening military-PNP cooperation in operations against the communist NPA rebels. (With Ben Serrano/Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Baguio. (September 25, 2007 issue)
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