Army augments force vs NPA ‘tax men’

LEGAZPI CITY – The Southern Luzon Command (SOLCOM) disclosed yesterday that it would deploy three additional Army batallions, as well as then Cafgu companies in Bicol especially in Sorsogon to speed up development projects as well as basic services like electricity which is being thwarted by revolutionary taxation’by the New People’s Army.

Maj. Gen. Roy Kiamko, the new Southern Luzon Command (Solcom) chief, said the deployment was ordered by President Arroyo who sternly warned local executive they would not to receive support from the national government if they coordinate with the New People’s Army in their area.

The President’s warning came after Sorsogon Gov. Raul Lee claimed that the NPA rebels in his province are delaying the implementation of the Fisheries Resource Management Project (FRMP). Lee said the NPA is asking that the project be implemented by the local government units.

Top official of the Sorsogon Electric Cooperative I, which is providing electricity to the towns of Bulan, Matnog, Sta. Magdalena, Irosin, Casiguran, Juban, Bulusan and Magallanes, also said that the NPA is collecting some P40,000 monthly revolutionary tax’ from the electric coop.

Vicente Sia, SORECO I general manager, admitted the extortion but feels helpless about it because the Communist guerillas had already confiscated seven motorcycles – three of whom were owned by the coop and four by coop personnel- as well as a motor banca which was used in collecting the bills of their consumer.

"In fact, the NPA is urging residents in far-flung barangays not to pay their electric bills," said Sia, causing a 95- percent drop in their electric bill collection in 1989 as well as an 85-percent drop in 2001.

Meanwhile, suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) totally burned, Tuesday two cement mixers and a truck worth millions of pesos used in the on-going road construction at Barangay Mamonit, Mayantoc, Tarlac.

A belated report reaching here said about 10 heavily armed men in fatigue uniform on board unknown vehicle arrived at the construction site, poured gasoline on to two Fuso transit mixers and an Isuzu Elf and set them on fire.

Francisco Dizon of Barangay Maliwalo, Tarlac City, owner of the said equipment was not at the site when the incident occurred.

The rebels fled towards Sitio Bularit, Barangay Cananongan, Sta, Ignacio, Tarlac, police said.

Initial investigation conducted by Mayantoc police said that the suspects burned the items after Dizon failed to pay them revolutionary tax. – Celso Amo, Ric Sapnu