Firms lose P43 million in damage from NPA attacks



By Anthony Vargas, Reporter

Manila-- PROPERTY destroyed by the New People’s Army (NPA) amounted to P43 million in the first quarter of the year.

According to a study conducted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), NPA rebels inflicted the damage on business firms that refused to pay the underground movement the so-called revolutionary tax.

The military said the amount does not include the P30 million loss sustained by the contractor of a major airport in Silay City, Negros Occidental, when the rebels burned its equipment early this month.

According to the military the NPA rakes in millions from its extortion activity. Any business firms that won’t come across are made to feel its wrath.

From January to September 2006, the military said, NPA rebels staged at least 38 attacks on what it perceived as recalcitrant business establishments. It said Globe Telecoms sustained the biggest loss, with 16 of its cell sites destroyed. The destruction cost the firm P14 million.

Smart Telecoms, Globe’s chief rival, and Digitel Telecommunications (Digitel) have been spared for some reason.

After telecommunication, the transportation and heavy equipment industry came next as a favorite target. In the same period, the NPA launched ten attacks against firms in that sector, inflicting P23.9 million in damage.

Eastern Mindanao and Southern Luzon recorded the most number of attacks, with 16 and eight, respectively. The other regions and the number of attacks in them are Northern Luzon.

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