NPA rebels seize 6 persons involved in logging for not paying 'taxes'

From InterAksyon (May 27): NPA rebels seize 6 persons involved in logging for not paying 'taxes'

New People’s Army rebels abducted six people involved in the logging business in Purok 8, Barangay Naboc, Monkayo, Compostela Valley, for not paying them the so-called “revolutionary tax” 

Senior Supt. Camilo Cascolan, the provincial police director, said the victims--Lino Armada, 62; his wife Frescielita, and their companions Joel Lingaya, 30; Raymund Gumpan, 21; a certain Beninido, 43, and one Jason Arata, all of Barangay Poblacion, Monkayo—were taken “at around 1 p.m. on May 24 at an NPA checkpoint. The victims were on board a Delica van when blocked by armed rebels.”

The rebels, however, released Frescielita after two hours, and she relayed the incident to the police.

Cascolan said the Armada couple was involved in falcata lumber buying.

He quoted Frescielita as saying “the rebels want them to pay monthly taxes considering they are involved in the logging business.”

He said negotiations for the release of the five captives are ongoing.

The incident, said officials, has also exposed the logging activities in the province despite President Bengino Aquino III’s Executive Order 23, which imposes a total log ban in the country.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/62691/npa-rebels-seize-6-persons-involved-in-logging-for-not-paying-taxes