Extortion letters found

From the Visayan Daily Star (Mar 14, 2019): Extortion letters found
in encounter with rebels

The New People’s Army Apolinario Gatmaitan Command warned an owner of a construction firm in Negros of sanctions detrimental to his business operation, should he fail to settle what they called “tax obligations” to the revolutionary government.
In his letter to the owner of a construction firm, whose identity is being withheld, Armando Magbanua of the Apolinario Gatmaitan Command Regional Taxation Group said that the People’s Democratic Government (PDG) established in the countryside exercises its right to impose taxes on properties, business operations and revenues, among others, within its territory.
A copy of the extortion letter was among those recovered by the 15th Infantry Battalion soldiers, after an encounter on Tuesday with nine suspected NPA members in Brgy. Salong, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental.

The brief gun battle led to the capture of a suspected NPA member and the recovery of two firearms and a fragmentation grenade, among other items.

In the extortion letter, Col. Benedict Arevalo, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, said Magbanua claimed that adherence to revolutionary taxation has corresponding privileges and concessions, with resources collected augmenting the PDG funds intended for its social services and other programs of the revolutionary movement.

“This only proves that the CPP-NPA-NDF is an extortionist terrorist organization,” Arevalo said, noting that the NPA recently went on a rampage by destroying heavy equipment in central and southern Negros, after owners failed to comply with their extortion demands.

Arevalo said the NPA regulars are being used to do the difficult and dirty works in the countryside, while their leaders and political officers are enjoying the fruits of their extortion activities, living luxuriously and comfortably in cities.

“That is why, I am calling for the NPA rebels to rethink their actual situation and surrender in groups so that they may able to live normal lives again”, he added.

Similar extortion letters, but this time addressed to political candidates, were also recovered by the military and police in Panay island.

Chief Supt. John Bulalacao, regional police director of Western Visayas, warned candidates, as well as local officials, not to give in to the NPA extortion demands, as they may face sanctions such as disqualification for possible violations of the Revised Penal Code and provisions of the Omnibus Election Code, for doing so.

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2019/March/14/topstory2.htm