AFP sees more extortion acts during election period

From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 2): AFP sees more extortion acts during election period

The New Peoples Army (NPA) is expected to mount more violence during this year’s election period, military and police officials said.

Lt. Gen. Jorge Segovia, chief of the AFP Eastern Mindanao Command at a press conference here Tuesday said, the recent atrocities committed by the members of the CPP/NPAs in some parts of Davao region like burning of equipment of businesses in remote areas and abduction of a policeman in Compostela Valley formed part of their alleged extortion activities against politicians including businessmen.

“They are getting violent to threaten politicians and businessmen,” Segovia said adding that the election period is just a continuation of typhoon "Pablo" disaster where insurgents usually take advantage to mount terroristic threats.

He said the rebel movement is bent on creating violence in different forms to gain attention during the election period.

Segovia also cited the abduction of PO3 Ruben Nojapa of the Nabunturan Police Station last March 18 in Barangay Anislagan, Nabunturan, Compostela Valley as part of the “noise” the rebel movement is making.

He believes the rebel movement will release the policeman even without a joint police and military operation as his abduction is an added burden to the group.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=512342