Alleged NPAs extort money from landowner in Carmen

CEBU - Alleged members of the New People’s Army harassed and tried to extort money from a landowner in sitio Emo, barangay Cawrasan, Carmen town.

Apolinar Davedon, a resident of the area sought the assistance of the police last January 7, a day after the alleged rebels went to his house and got P14,000 from him.

Davedon said he did not report the incident immediately because he was afraid and confused on what to do.

The victim claimed that at around 6:30 p.m. of January 6, three men suddenly entered the compound of his house. One of the suspects allegedly angrily approached him, introduced himself as a member of NPA, pulled out an unknown firearm and fired a single shot in the air.

Davedon, who is living alone in his house, owns several hectares of land in the area and a relative of the incumbent captain of the barangay.

Elements of the police and the 12th Infantry Battalion and 3rd Infantry Division together with barangay officials who conducted an investigation learned that Davedon received a letter from the alleged rebels on December 20 demanding that he pay them P40,000 cash.

The rebels’ demand letter says they want P40,000 pesos to be placed under a coconut tree near the house of certain Sidoy. The victim, however, ignored the letter.

On January 6, Davedon said the suspects went to his house to get the money but since he did not have cash as big as they demanded, he gave them P14,000 as partial payment. After receiving the money, the three men fled towards unknown direction.

Carmen police chief Insp. Carlos Reyes said they saw the letter that was given by the suspects and they observed that it was just a simple letter and does not have an activity mentioned.

He cited that the leftist’s letter usually have a letter head while the letter given to Davedon looked like the one made by a grade school.

With this, police believed that the suspects are not real NPAs but only people who want to use the name of the group to gain money.

The house of the victim is located at the boundary of Carmen and Catmon towns and is about 4 kilometers away from the poblacion proper. The houses of the neighbors are also very far.

The police are still conducting follow-up investigation for possible identification of the suspects who are believed to be also residents of the area while the victim was advised not to go home and just stay with his relatives in the Carmen town proper. — Christopher Gabriel Bonjoc/WAB   (THE FREEMAN)