The Philippine Army’s 61st Infantry Battalion claimed that only a handful of political bets gave in to the New People’s Army’s (NPA) alleged extortion racket in the guise of a permit to campaign (PTC).
Lt. Colonel Joel Benedict Batara, 61st IB commander, said they only monitored 3 to 5 politicians who gave money for the NPA’s PTC demand.
These politicians, however, did not admit to authorities that they struck a deal with the rebels.
“But we received these information from civilians confirming that these politicians opted to give in,” Batara said.
It was also unclear how much they gave to the NPA so they can freely campaign in villages believed to be controlled by rebels.
Batara did not identify who the politicians were but claimed they are from Panay Island and are seeking the mayoralty and town council posts.
As the May 13 midterm elections near, Batara admitted that the rebels are slowly inching nearer to town centers to advance their extortion racket.
Aside from politicians, even small entrepreneurs and established businessmen are not spared by the NPAs.
“Nagsusumbong na sila ngayon. Most of them went to us and gave us copies of extortion letters sent to them,” he said.
Batara admitted that it’s hard to confirm if these businesses also gave in.
This information, based on 61IB assessment, could be a far cry from the monetary gains the NPA had in previous elections.
Last year, Philippine Army’s 301st Infantry Brigade modestly pegged the “earnings” of the NPA – Komiteng Rehiyon Panay (KRP) from its alleged extortion activities at around P30 to P40 million a year.
The amount was based on the documents seized from Maria Concepcion “Concha” Araneta-Bocala, the CPP-NPA-NDF secretary general of KRP.
Araneta-Bocala was arrested in a rented house at Juntado Subdivision, Barangay Calumpang, Molo, Iloilo City on Aug. 1, 2015.
Her arrest carried a reward of P7.8 million based on the joint DND-DILG Reward List No. 14-2012 dated Nov. 12, 2012.
But a year later, local courts granted her urgent motions for release on bail as she participated in the resumption of formal peace talks between the government and the NDFP on Aug. 20 to Aug. 27, 2016.
“Given that the arrest happened three years ago, the number could increase,” said former 301st IB commander and now 303rd IB head Brigadier General Benedict Arevalo.
He earlier said that with the 2019 elections, they expect that the group would further intensify its extortion racket.
“But we received these information from civilians confirming that these politicians opted to give in,” Batara said.
It was also unclear how much they gave to the NPA so they can freely campaign in villages believed to be controlled by rebels.
Batara did not identify who the politicians were but claimed they are from Panay Island and are seeking the mayoralty and town council posts.
As the May 13 midterm elections near, Batara admitted that the rebels are slowly inching nearer to town centers to advance their extortion racket.
Aside from politicians, even small entrepreneurs and established businessmen are not spared by the NPAs.
“Nagsusumbong na sila ngayon. Most of them went to us and gave us copies of extortion letters sent to them,” he said.
Batara admitted that it’s hard to confirm if these businesses also gave in.
This information, based on 61IB assessment, could be a far cry from the monetary gains the NPA had in previous elections.
Last year, Philippine Army’s 301st Infantry Brigade modestly pegged the “earnings” of the NPA – Komiteng Rehiyon Panay (KRP) from its alleged extortion activities at around P30 to P40 million a year.
The amount was based on the documents seized from Maria Concepcion “Concha” Araneta-Bocala, the CPP-NPA-NDF secretary general of KRP.
Araneta-Bocala was arrested in a rented house at Juntado Subdivision, Barangay Calumpang, Molo, Iloilo City on Aug. 1, 2015.
Her arrest carried a reward of P7.8 million based on the joint DND-DILG Reward List No. 14-2012 dated Nov. 12, 2012.
But a year later, local courts granted her urgent motions for release on bail as she participated in the resumption of formal peace talks between the government and the NDFP on Aug. 20 to Aug. 27, 2016.
“Given that the arrest happened three years ago, the number could increase,” said former 301st IB commander and now 303rd IB head Brigadier General Benedict Arevalo.
He earlier said that with the 2019 elections, they expect that the group would further intensify its extortion racket.
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