Rebel taxation flourishing in Ilocos, CAR

CAMP HENRY ALLEN, Baguio City — Rebel taxation is flourishing in the Ilocos and Cordillera provinces, and "heads of local government units are even involved," a military official said.

Quoting intelligence reports from field units, Army Maj. Elmer Quiros, chief of the Armed Forces’ Civil Relations Service in the two regions, cited an instance in Abra where a mayor reportedly "collected" P200 each from his employees before the Christmas season, purportedly for the New People’s Army (NPA), which celebrated the Communist Party of the Philippines’ 33rd founding anniversary last Dec. 26.

The intelligence reports tag the mayor as an NPA "supporter."

Before last year’s synchronized national and local elections, the military proposed the filing of charges against candidates who paid "permit-to-campaign fees" which the NPA imposed for them to gain access to rebel-controlled areas. Martin Montana, self-confessed spokesman of the Chadli Molintas Command of the NPA-Cordillera, said rebel taxation is directed at big businessmen, politician-landlords and other members of the "ruling class," and never the poor farmers.

"It is the revolutionary movement’s form of imposing its political authority in areas where it is influential," Montana said.

After the May elections last year, Mayor Leo Baroña of Lacub, Abra fired at communist guerrillas who attempted to collect supposed "unpaid dues" from him.