Extortion forces Negros Navigation to close down Cotabato operations

COTABATO CITY — Threats of bomb attacks by big extortion syndicates forced a big shipping firm to halt its operations here and in Maguindanao. Other companies are feared to follow suit if extortionists would continue to prey on them.

In a report to Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Gov. Parouk Hussin, Jose Mario Gana, secretary-general of the ARMM’s Business Council, said the closure of the office here of the Negros Navigation came just days after extortionists blasted two fragmentation grenades at the office of the WG&A shipping company in nearby Sultan Kudarat town, injuring two of the firm’s security guards.

A group calling itself the Suicide Bombers Team, or SBT, claimed responsibility for the attack on the office of the WG&A and threatened to repeat the bombing if the company would not shell out a P100,000 monthly protection money.

The SBT also exploded an improvised bomb, in a night time attack, at a service outlet along Quezon Avenue here of the forwarding outfit of the Aboitiz Shipping a day after the bombing in Sultan Kudarat. No one was killed or injured in the bombing.

According to Gana, whose office functions as a service conduit of the ARMM government to business establishments operating in the region, the group has also been pestering other maritime companies still operating in Central Mindanao despite the security problems now besetting them.

Sources from the military’s intelligence community confirmed that the SBT and other rival gangs had indeed tried to mulct money from Negros Navigation.

The Star tried, but failed to reach officials of the firm for comment.

The office space here the Negros Navigation rented, located along Sinsuat Avenue, is now a restaurant.

ARMM’s port personnel overseeing the operations of Maguindanao Polloc Port said Negros Navigation had indeed stopped its operations in Central Mindanao due to "security problems" and that its personnel, mostly from Visayas and Metro Manila, have all packed their things and left.

Gana, said other shipping companies are now contemplating on phasing out their operations in the city and in Maguindanao due to continuing harassment by extortionists.

"If this happens, we will have employment problems. Smaller business companies earning from the operation of these big shipping companies will also be affected," Gana warned.

Ishak Mastura, ARMM trade secretary, said a stop in the operations of big companies serving Maguindanao will worsen the local economy.

"It will cause serious setbacks to the economy of the province," Mastura said.

The Polloc Port of Maguindanao is not far away from Camp S.K. Pendatun, the regional headquarters of the ARMM police.

Two years ago, a car distributor here also pulled out and transferred its operation due to alleged threats by extortionists.

Another automobile company also balked from its planned setting up of a branch here due to the same security constraints.