AFP: NPA cost traders P246M in E. Mindanao

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has accused the New People’s Army (NPA) in eastern Mindanao of causing millions of pesos worth of damage to businesses in the region during the year.

In a statement, AFP Eastern Mindanao commander (EastMinCom) Maj. Gen. Rey Leonardo B. Guerrero said businesses in the region lost an estimated P246.12 million in 2015 due to NPA attacks, mostly arson with extortionist motives.

In a phone interview, Capt. Alberto Caber, chief of the EastMinCom public information office, said that most of the companies that fell prey to the communist rebels were construction equipment firms, logging concessionaires and mining companies.

“Dole’s plantations were attacked seven times in one year, in Sarangani, Compostela Valley, and Surigao del Sur,” Caber said.

Caber said even a school building in Sarangani that was being put up by Rep. and boxing champion Manny Pacquiao was not spared.

Caber said NPA rebels also ransacked guardhouses, destroyed equipment, and in the worst-case scenario, planted landmines causing civilian casualties.

“The motive was usually extortion. [The NPA] would send letters,” Caber said, in Filipino. He said the money was then used to finance the rebels’ armed struggle.

The damage was highest in the fourth quarter of the year at P84.11 million. Around P34.71 million was lost in the first quarter, P34.58 million in the second quarter and P92.72 in the third quarter.

“If the CPP/NPA/NDF is sincere about peace and promoting the people’s interest, then they should immediately desist from attacking development projects and legitimate businesses, which serve the interests and provide gainful employment to our people,” Guerrero said in a statement.