Military launches Anti-NPA Kotong text hotline
BACOLOD CITY -- The military in Negros has just launched the Anti-NPA Kotong campaign to avert the alleged extortion activities of the rebels, 303rd Infantry Brigade Commander Brigadier General Josue Gaverza said.
Gaverza is now soliciting the support of civilians who happened to have received extortion letters that usually resulted to damage of properties if there was no compliance.
Civilians may relay their information by calling or sending text messages to the NPA Kotong lines 0915-825-9909 and 0921-744-6303.
About P93 million worth of properties were destroyed by rebels in Negros from 1998 to 2008, military reported.
Military records also showed that Northern Negros was hardly hit in terms of properties with more than P16 million in losses before this year ends.
Two months ago, livelihoods of poor individuals were affected because of the burning of coal mines equipment in Calatrava.
Other incidents were the burning of trucks owned Tanduay distributors in Escalante City, haciendas in Cadiz City, three tractors owned by a bio-fuels company in Siaton, Negros Oriental, backhoe of E.C de Luna in La Castellana and many more.
With the wrongdoings of the rebel, Gaverza said such activities are no longer considered as pro-poor in line with the rebel's idealism but he described it as anti-poor and anti-development making lives of the poor and peasants more miserable.
"People's cooperation and participation by giving information is very important and they should not hesitate to tell us about the rebels' extortion in order for the authorities to put a stop on these atrocities," Gaverza added.