NPA’s earnings from extortion doubled in 2009 – AFP

The amount of money collected by the outlawed New People’s Army (NPA) from extortion activities doubled last year, records from the Philippine military revealed. Data from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) showed that the NPA earned P136 million through extortion last year, more than twice the amount the communist rebel group collected in 2008, which the military pegged at P61 million. The amount raises the total earnings of the NPA from extortion activities under the Arroyo administration to more than P1 billion. Military information chief Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner Jr. said the NPA’s earnings from extortion activities doubled in 2009 because the insurgents intensified their illegal activities in preparation for this year's May polls. "They increased their extortion activities last year in preparation for the elections to support certain local candidates. They now extort money even from common farmers and business people in the provinces," Brawner told GMANews.TV in a phone interview on Friday. Brawner likewise said the increase in the NPA’s earnings through extortion could be attributed to the communist group’s efforts to fund their counter-offensives against the military. "They increased their extortion activities also to get more funds for their counter-offensives against the military, especially with our target to eliminate all their forces by June this year," he said. In June 2006, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered security forces to crush the communist insurgency by the time she ends her term in June this year. Most funds from logging Military records likewise showed that the NPA got most of their funds from logging concessionaires in the provinces, collecting a total of P28.7 million from logging firms alone. The NPA also collected P12.5 million from private individuals in 2009 and P9 million from mining companies and agri-business and fishpond owners, according to military records. Brawner explained that logging companies suffered most from the NPA’s extortion activies since they are the "most accessible source of money" for the communist rebels. "They are in the hinterlands together with the rebels. Since they are in the mountains with the NPA, they have no choice but to give money; otherwise, their operations will be hampered and their people will be killed," he said. Military data also revealed that rebels extorted money from business and commercial establishments, construction firms, quarry operators and even from local politicians last year, among other sources of money. More money from ‘permit-to-campaign’ taxes The military also said that it expects the communist rebels to step up their racket of collecting money, particularly “permit-to-campaign" taxes, this year, especially with the campaign period for local politicians drawing near. "We expect the NPA to increase their efforts to collect money from local politicians, but we continue to appeal to local officials not to pay these rebels," he said. The AFP had earlier called on candidates seeking elective posts in May to refrain from giving in to the NPA’s extortion activities. [See: AFP, CPP in word war over 'extortion' of candidates] The military had also vowed to intensify their efforts to stop extortion activities of the communist rebels, especially during election season. [See: Military to intensify drive vs NPA's extortion activities] - with Andreo Calonzo/RSJ, GMANews.TV