NPAs better tax collectors - solon

What can communist rebels do far better than government?

Collect taxes efficiently, says Rep. Danilo Suarez (LAMP, Quezon), chairman of the House committee on ways and means.

He noted that the rebels collect taxes far more efficiently than the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Bureau of Customs combined.

Suarez told a press briefing on Friday that members of the New People's Army (NPA) in Southern Tagalog and Bicol have been so efficient in their tax collections that they are able to collect at least P10 million from households and businesses.

"This is alarming, but they are very efficient when it comes to collection," he said.

"We might as well sub-contract them so that our tax collection efficiency will improve," he chided tax collectors.

Suarez quoted an intelligence report from the military that the rebels raked in at least P120 million last year.

The figure, according to the kidnapped Army Gen. Victor Obillo, could be even higher.

Obillo, who was released by the NPA after 58 days in captivity, told a House panel in October last year that the rebels regularly collect some P30 million in Southern Tagalog alone.

The Army general also said that while communist leaders enjoy luxurious lives abroad, an ordinary guerrilla receives only about P25 a month.

"The rest of the collection is being shared by the party leaders and the NPA commanders. Such a disparity proves that the rebel movement is self-contradicting. Its leaders are living comfortably in a foreign land while its fighters are living a hardy and hunted life in the mountains. This violates its so-called doctrine of a 'classless society'," the general said.

Obillo added that guerrillas make daily sacrifices by eating only kamote (sweet potato), cassava and sardines.

Suarez said the communist movement is gaining popularity in Southern Tagalog because its cadres have been promising a monthly salary to recruits.

Suarez said that from about 3,000 fighters, their numbers have grown to 5,000.

He blamed such an increase to the government's failure to deliver basic services in far-flung areas.

The lawmaker said that whenever there is a "decrease or absence of basic services, the people become very critical, restless and rebellious."

"When the people are dissatisfied, peace and order deteriorates and this would be costlier for the government," he said.

The Quezon congressman said revenue-generating agencies must know the implications of their failure to meet their targets.

To improve collections, Suarez proposed to demote or discharge from the government service any personnel who fails to meet revenue targets.

But if a tax collecting agency meets its target, 10 percent of whatever it has collected would be given to the employees as a special incentive.