Samar mayor to police, military: Beef up security amid NPA extortion

CALBAYOG CITY, Philippines – The mayor here has asked the police and military to tighten security in the city amid reports of extortion activities by communist rebels.

At the recent meeting of the Joint Peace and Security Coordinating Council, Mayor Ronaldo Aquino also asked the Army’s 8th Infantry Division and the Samar police office to intensify their intelligence operations.

Lt. Col. Seigfred Tubalado, commander of the 43rd Infantry Battalion (IB), said they have recovered documents showing that the Eastern Visayas committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines has collected around P1.2 million in monthly “revolutionary taxes” from Calbayog.

In a multi sectoral peace forum held in Basey town on Wednesday, Lt. Col. Antonio Dulnuan Jr., commander of the 87th IB, called on concerned sectors not to provide funds to communist insurgents.