Gomer Matanog
MANILA – The Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) extorted money in Mindanao by threatening local businessmen and politicians of harm if they do not give in to the rebels’ demands.
Gomer Matanog, resident of San Miguel, Agusan del Sur, made this claim in a documentary produced by Sambayanan.
He said the CPP-NPA kills those unable to give money.
“The moment you can’t give you will be warned or fined. If not, you will be killed,” Matanog said in the vernacular.
Showing reports from People’s Television (PTV), the NPA reportedly provides “permit to campaign” to local politicians in exchange for a certain amount depending on the position the candidate is running for.
Another PTV report showed the NPA burning several heavy equipment worth PHP40 million.
In an earlier report by the Philippine News Agency, former CPP-NPA and Bayan Muna officer Magdalena Gano admitted that the CPP-NPA charges revolutionary taxes as she herself collected them from establishments in their area in Surigao del Sur, with threat of arson for those unwilling to pay.
The US State Department and the European Union have both tagged the CPP-NPA as terrorist bodies. (PNA)
