THE 10th Infantry Division (ID) said that several companies and individuals who allegedly continue giving in to New People’s Army’s (NPA’s) extortion demand are now being investigated.
This after the NPA is now classified as a terrorist group.
Acting spokesperson of the 10th ID Captain Robert Escalona said in an interview at the sideline that an investigation is now being conducted to probe alleged financiers of the NPA terrorist.
However, he did not divulge the names of the company and individuals but he said that they already have a list.
“They are subject for further investigation pa. Once na na-prove na nato (that) they supported [the NPA], they can be charged under Human Security Act,” he said.
“About hundreds. Merong big companies and individuals, merong mga negosyante, mix,” he said.
These companies and individuals have been warned several times in the past and they are knowledgeable enough on the consequences of their continued support to the NPA.
“They themselves kabalo naman na sila so there’s no need to notify them,” he said.
They are located in the jurisdiction of the 10th ID especially in Davao Region.
Proclamation No. 374 issued last December 5 declares the CPP-NPA as designated/identified terrorist organization and under Republic Act No. 10168 states that “it is the policy of the state to protect life, liberty and property from acts of terrorism to condemn terrorism and those who support and finance it and to recognize it as inimical and dangerous to the national security of the country and the welfare of the people and to make financing of terrorism a crime against the Filipino people, against humanity and against the law of nations.”
The proclamation also added that it will “criminalize the financing of terrorism with property or funds of designated persons/organizations and prevents and suppresses the commission of said offenses through freezing and forfeiture of the property or funds of said designated person/property among others.”
Business sector, particularly the mining industry players, were warned by the President not to give in to extortion demand of the Reds otherwise they will face closure. The money that the NPA gets from these business establishments will only serve as a resource generation for them to continue with their operation and worsen the problem.
Based on earlier report, about P1.5 billion extortion money were collected from construction, mining, transportation, agriculture companies, other business entities and individuals by the rebels every year. They were forced to give otherwise the rebels will resort to burning of facilities of the company, abduction or killing.