Batangas gov beefs up security

BATANGAS CITY — Batangas Governor Hermilando Mandanas has ordered the Batangas police to tighten and increase security on foreign owned factories here after receiving a complaint from the Korean Embassy, stating that the New People’s Army was allegedly demanding revolutionary taxes from Korean-owned companies.

Mandanas acted on the complaint by Taekcha of the Korean Embassy that the Sangwo Company Limited factory based in Lipa City and Sto. Tomas, Batangas were allegedly harassed by members of the New People’s Army operating here in Southern Tagalog. "I already instructed Provincial Director Sr. Supt. Rodolfo Magtibay to add police operatives on areas where the reported extortion exits" Mandanas said. "It will greatly affect our economy if these (Korean) companies will move out from our country".

According to intelligence report, the NPA is gearing to attack vital installations here in time of their founding anniversary this month. Communist guerillas also threaten to attack the police and military in retaliation for the killing of their eight comrades during a gunbattle at Barangay Haligue, Batangas City in 1998.

Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) spokesman Gregorio "Ka Roger" Rosal earlier said in a statement that the movement will not forgo the declaration of the traditional ceasefire during the Christmas season. This, after about 60 NPA rebels burned an estimated P60-million worth of equipment belonging to Philippine Aggregates Timber Export (Pateco) in Mount Dinapigue, Isabela for refusing to pay the so called "revolutionary tax".

Private companies here have expressed apprehensions after a series of attacks by the NPA, burning down Globe cellsites here in Southern Tagalog specifically in Liliw, Laguna; Candelaria, Quezon; Calapan, Or. Mindoro and in Lian, Batangas, all for the month of November only.

Chief Superintendent Enrique Galang Jr. police director of Calabarzon Cavite-Laguna-Batangas-Rizal-Quezon however ordered a hightened police alert on the region including the Batangas province-covering the three cities and 31 municipalities. — Arnell Ozaeta