MILF rebels collect taxes under ancestral domain scheme

ZAMBOANGA CITY — Local government officials and villagers accused members of the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) of collecting taxes to farmers in Tungawan, Zamboanga Sibugay using the ancestral domain scheme in imposing its claim, according to officials yesterday.

This developed as a member of the MILF was arrested in an entrapment operation for collecting taxes also in Tungawan last week.

The local officials led by its mayor presented their complaints to National Security Adviser (NSA) Secretary Norberto Gonzales during the Regional Peace and Order Council (RDC) dialogue and consultation held in Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur.

Maj. Eugene Batara, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) information chief said Gonzales immediately acted on the complaint and will be forwarding the case to the GRP panel of the Coordinating Committee on the Cessation on Hostility (CCCH).

"The local government officials reported the case of alleged extortion and collection of taxes from the farmers and villagers using the ancestral domain as basis of their imposition of taxation," Batara said. He said the act, if proven, constitutes violation of the existing ceasefire.

He said the military is also investigating the reports and will file a complaint before the CCCH panel.

The MILF is holding a camp in Tungawan. The MILF said it has yet to receive the formal complaint and vowed to look into the allegation.

Moreover, combined elements of the police and military conducted a special operation and arrested MILF member Zaldy Mohammad alias Zal for collecting taxes at Sitio Palid, Barangay Magdaup, Ipil in an entrapment operation during the reported pay-off last Thursday.

Mohammad’s arrest stemmed from a formal complaint filed by farmers of Magdaup.

The arresting authorities recovered from Mohammad the P1,000-peso bill used as marked money and placed him under the custody of the PNP Provincial Intelligence Investigation Division (PIID) as charges have been formally filed before the local court.