Thursday, November 7, 2019

NPA extorts P6-M a month in Surigao Sur: Army

From the Philippine News Agency (Nov 7, 2019): NPA extorts P6-M a month in Surigao Sur: Army



HEIGHTENED OFFENSIVES. Lt. Col. Jezreel J. Diagmel, acting commander of 36th Infantry Battalion says they are stepping up military operations against the continuing extortion activities of the New People’s Army in Surigao del Sur. (Photo grab from 36IB Facebook Page)

The communist New People’s Army receives an average extortion money of PHP6 million a month from different businesses in Surigao del Sur, a top Army official said Wednesday.

In a statement, 1Lt. Jonald D. Romorosa, civil-military operations officer of the Army's 36th Infantry Battalion, said the extortion money comes from politicians, businessmen, mining operations, construction companies, and even ordinary citizens in the region.

Lt. Col. Jezreel J. Diagmel, 36IB acting commander, said intensified military operations are ongoing to "obstruct the extortion activities" of the rebels in the region.


Diagmel said the heightened operations were also prompted by appeals from residents who have long been complaining of the rebels' extortion activities in their areas.

He said the operations also aim to trace NPA hideouts.

“The Army is gearing towards eradicating the extortion activities of the CNTs to our peace-loving people of Surigao del Sur,” Diagmel said.

CNT is a military term for "Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army Terrorists."

The increased operations aims to “thwart and pre-empt the NPA extortion activities as we will cut their resources for them to surrender and return to the folds of the law,” the Army official added.

Diagmel also called on the public to help the military in its ongoing campaign against NPA extortion "by not giving in to the demands of the CNTs".

The 36IB covers the towns of Carrascal, Cantilan, Lanuza, Carmen, Madrid, Cortes, San Miguel, Tago and Tandag City.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1085344

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