Eastern Mindanao trade lost P246.1 M to NPA attacks

MANILA, Philippines - Businesses in Eastern Mindanao lost P246.12 million due to atrocities committed by the New People’s Army (NPA) in 2015, a military official said on Wednesday.

Capt. Albert Caber, Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) spokesman, said plantations and construction, logging and mining firms in Surigao del Sur, Compostela Valley and Sarangani were affected by the NPA attacks.  

Caber said the losses amounted to P34.7 million, P34.58 million, P92.72 million and P84.11 million in the first, second, third and fourth quarters of the year, respectively.

He said the amount of damage was slightly lower than the P300 million recorded in 2014, but higher than the P30 million posted in 2013. 

Maj. Gen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero, Eastmincom chief, said the attacks by communist rebels hampered development  in the affected provinces and brought hardship to the workers of the companies. 

“If the CPP-NPA-NDF (Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army–National Democratic Front) is sincere about peace and promoting the people’s interest, they should stop attacking development projects and legitimate businesses that serve the interests of and provide gainful employment to our people,” Guerrero said.

Caber said units under the Eastmincom were directed to beef up security in vital industries, projects and businesses in their respective areas.

 He said troops were also ordered to coordinate with the local police, local governments and the security officers of the companies. 

He said they expect a rise in extortion activities with the implementation of various development projects in the region and the upcoming elections.

Caber appealed to the public to coordinate with security and law enforcement agencies to stop the extortion activities of NPA rebels. – With Edith Regalado