NPA extorting money from Smartmatic?

MANILA, Philippines - The New People’s Army is extorting money from Smartmatic to allow the telecommunications firm to operate in areas under rebel control, the military said yesterday.

However, Brig. Gen. Francisco Cruz, Armed Forces Civil Relations Service chief, did not say how much money the communist rebels were demanding from Smartmatic.

“But the harassment on Smartmatic is viewed not only as part of the NPA’s money making scheme but also their total disregard for the people’s chance of an advanced voting system,” he said.

Cruz said the NPA is also collecting “permit-to-campaign” and “permit-to-win” fees from politicians running for office in areas under their control.

“We urge the candidates not to yield in to such NPA fund-raising schemes,” he said. “To pay is analogous to paying ransom.”

Cruz said military intelligence reports showed that the fees range from P20,000 to P500,000, depending on the position the candidate is seeking to win.

“From 1996 to 2007, the NPA earned a staggering P1.15 billion or annual income of P101 million from its extortion activities on construction firms, mining, telecommunications, concessionaires, politicians and private individuals, including poor farmers, fisherfolk and sari-sari store owners,” he said.

National Security Adviser Milo Ibrado said a number of national and local politicians were monitored to have employed the NPA for their own political interests.

“At this stage, a number of them (politicians) have been monitored to be going around escorted by the NPA bodyguards,” he said.

The military and the police are under orders to go all out against these politicians and their NPA bodyguards, Ibrado said. – Jaime Laude