Cash crunch affects NPA operations

BACOLOD CITY — The freezing of the assets of self-exiled Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder and National Democratic Front political adviser Jose Ma. Sison is hurting rebel operations on Negros island and forcing local NDF commanders to resort to extortion.

The Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade yesterday showed The STAR copies of a taxation letter bearing the NDF logo and signed by "Ka Diego Dagohoy," the nom de guerre of priest-turned-rebel Frank Fernandez, and "Ka Wenceslao Jereza."

The letter said that the NDF, "as a legitimate people’s revolutionary government, reserves the right to impose tax obligations on individuals and groups located within the area of revolutionary control and influence."

The NDF said in these letters the "revolutionary tax" payments raised by the group will be used to "deliver basic services to the people."

Col. Alphonsus Crucero, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, said he was given a copy of the NDF letter by a businessman he did not identify.

"They (NDF) are now resorting to massive local taxation to cushion the impact of the freezing of their foreign funding," Crucero said.

Former full-time CPP member Ronilo Cadigal said 40 percent of the funds gleaned by the NDF through revolutionary tax collection is being channeled to the CPP and its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA), and only 60 percent goes to project implementation.

Cadigal added that the management of Vallacar Transit Inc. paid P3 million to the NPA after it burned nine Ceres Liner passenger buses on Negros island.

Sison said Washington is on the second step of a six-part "squeeze play" to derail peace talks and have him extradited.

A "publicized raid" on the apartment on Rooseveltlaan in Utrecht where he, his wife Juliet de Lima and son Jasm have been living for the past 14 years is part of the alleged squeeze play, Sison said. The Dutch government suspended all social benefits given to Sison and told him to immediately vacate the apartment on Rooseveltlaan.