Army report: City businessmen next targets of NPA extortion
Communist terrorists running out of politician-targets? And communist terrorists turning into terrorist extortionist?
Widespread extortion activities of communist terrorists New People's Army (NPA) have now reached Iloilo City. In fact, reports from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) here disclosed of a recent businessman victimized with an initial P50,000 pay-off. The amount paid appeared to be a very minimal percentage though if based on the exorbitant total extortion demanded amounting to P1 million.
In a news release, Captain Lowen Gil Marquez, Commanding Officer of the 32nd Civil Relations Unit of the AFP confirmed the incident while slamming the communist hierarchy.
For the AFP, extortion and similar harassments regularly perpetuated by the communist terrorists are tantamount to "economic sabotage and anti-development."
"The extortion harassments happened in the vicinity of Iloilo City," Captain Marquez said adding that the "extortion team" is comprised of one representative from a legal front organization and three regular NPA rebels.
The latest victim, an Ilonggo businessman is a contractor and currently involved in government infrastructure contracts. After having been threatened, a clear message was also left by the communist terrorists cum terrorist extortionists to either pay-up or face the consequences. The wrath of the NPAs will be 'verbalized' in the burning of heavy equipment or delays in the implementation of the project.
"The incident happened last June 24, 2007 that prompted the victims to complain and report to the AFP," the AFP in its news release continued. "The victims want protection from the poisonous fang of the terrorist extortionists."
The spate of communist-led criminal activities has caused the AFP to strengthen its linkages with the local government sectors, private groups and key players of the Ilonggo business community.
This, Captain Marquez explained, is expected to "pre-empt, stop and neutralize" the NPAs identified to be working under the command of the Napoleon Tumagtang Group.