The New People’s Army in Region 6 is getting more desperate about addressing their problems of declining manpower and lack of logistical requirements to pursue their armed struggle against the government and heavily rely now on extortion for their survival, Army Maj. Gen. Vicente Porto, 3rd Infantry Division commander, said.

“Extortion has always been a huge part of their operation, and they (NPA) rely on it for their survival,” Porto said, citing among others, the continuous harassments of Megavia Marketing, a local distributor of Philip Morris Company-Philippines, in Western Visayas that had refused to pay revolutionary taxes to them.

Not satisfied with stealing and the recent burning of the firm delivery van in Leon town, Iloilo, Porto said rebels also have the audacity to continue sending threatening messages to the company.

Several businessmen in Bacolod have also received extortion letters, allegedly from the Boy Gatmaitan Command of the NPA, demanding payment of revolutionary tax.

The letterhead of the paper on which the letters sent to the businessmen were written, bear the logo of the NPA and the name Boy Gatmaitan Command New People’s Army Negros. They are signed by Ka Armando Magbanua of the regional taxation team of the National Democratic Front-Negros.

The letters inform the recipients that the Regional Taxation Team under the people’s revolutionary government is inviting the recipient businessman to negotiation talks with their official representative regarding his “tax obligation”.

The Roselyn “Ka Jean” Pelle Command in northern Negros also issued separate statements, claiming responsibility for the killings in Escalante City and Toboso, while another civilian in Igbaras town, Iloilo, was injured in a strafing incident, carried out by rebels.

Porto said the more they justify that their actions are necessary, the less likely they can convince the ordinary people, even more so their own flock, of the righteousness of their cause.

He also expressed appreciation to the Police Regional 6, which is now taking a more active role in helping them address to what he calls this “nuisance (group)” in the region.*GPB

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