Extortion

In their last meeting earlier this month, the negotiating panels of the Philippine government and the CPP-NPA agreed to an “interim” bilateral ceasefire agreement – whatever that may mean.

The meeting was not even supposed to happen. President Duterte earlier called for a pause in the talks after a series of ambushes pulled by the rebels against soldiers and policemen. Peace advocates managed to cajole one more meeting.

On their way to the meeting, the government panel was given a clear mission. President Duterte asked them to bring home a “ceasefire.” The “interim” ceasefire agreement seems to be the mouse coaxed out of the mountain, some sort of minimum compliance to keep the President happy and the talks hopeful.

While his team was already in Europe, President Duterte gave them a call. He wanted a clear commitment from the communists to stop their extortion activities and instructed his panel never to concede any territory to the rebels. The communists justified most of their attacks, especially on troops out on humanitarian missions, on the grounds that the victims strayed into “their” territory.

The past few weeks, the NPA appears to have escalated their attacks apparently in aid of extortion. They burned down millions worth of heavy equipment belonging to vulnerable companies engaged in agribusinesses. Either the spike in such types of attacks were intended for the rebels to make hay before a ceasefire kicks in or an indication the collection of “revolutionary taxes” will continue despite the on-going negotiations.

I had a long conversation with a businessman from the Caraga region a few weeks ago. He complained NPA extortion activities have become more brazen and more encompassing. Small businesses formerly ignored by the rebel tax collectors were now being approached for regular payments. He has since avoided going to his farm.

 Eduardo Maningo, spokesman for the agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in southern Mindanao, was more direct. He asks government “to please step up its protection of farm workers and businesses and go after lawless elements. The safety of our families and our livelihood are threatened. If the government fails to address this problem, businesses can leave and we will lose our jobs.”

Banana and pineapple plantations in Mindanao appear to be the favorite targets of NPA extortion activities.

On March 30, rebels attacked the facilities of Dole plantation in Barangay Sinawal, General Santos City. They torched the cold storage and palletizing facilities, a container van and other capital equipment. The company has since stopped all farm operations. Top management still has to decide on the continuation of production activities. This severely affects the livelihood of families dependent on the enterprise.

Earlier, on Feb. 5, rebels attacked a banana processing plant in Pantukan, Compostela Valley. After tying up the caretaker of the packing plant, the rebels poured gasoline on the building and burned down the facility.

On Feb. 25, about 80 rebels attacked a pineapple plantation in Bukidnon. They simultaneously set afire heavy equipment in various parts of the plantation. They were not doing this for pure enjoyment. In another attack, a pineapple harvester was hit by a landmine.

On March 25, rebels blocked three container vans in Maragusan, Compostela Valley.  The fruits carried in the container vans were doused with gasoline and burned.

On March 26, rebels opened fire at a spray plane in Tagbina, Surigao. Hit thrice, the plane was fortunate to have limped back to its hangar.

On March 27, a little past noon, NPA rebels attacked the plantation of Sumifru (Philippines) Corp. in Malaybalay, Bukidnon. As in the other similar attacks, they burned down equipment and vehicles used by the enterprise.

One agribusiness investor could only fret: “All the while, I thought agricultural development is a priority, but the continuous harassment and extortion activities of the NPA prove otherwise.”

ARBs spokesman Maningo adds: “Our industry is already hampered with problems. We have low productivity because of pests and diseases, drought, flooding…but the insurgency is most alarming. We are scared for our lives.”

The products produced by the fruit plantations in Mindanao are the brightest items on our export agenda. Demand for our tropical fruits have picked up. Just recently, a top Chinese official signed a deal for $1 billion worth of purchases intending to help our fruit plantations grow.

About two million people, including family members and workers in the downstream industries, are dependent on the banana industry alone. If they cannot plant or tend to the crop because of NPA extortion activities, the misery will be large.

There is consensus among the affected communities that government does not seem focused enough on the peace and order problem. They feel that the leadership is betting too much on the possibility that an arrangement with the communist rebels will bring a halt to the destructive extortion activities of the rebels.

There is little to support that expectation. Since the peace talks resumed, extortion activities spiked rather than receded. Even when a previous ceasefire was in effect, NPA commanders in Mindanao kept up their ambuscades on government troops. The local guerrilla leaders appear to be impervious to the dictates of the communist panel negotiating in Europe.

Likewise, there is little expectation that the recently concluded “interim” ceasefire agreement will lead to a cessation of extortion. It might not even lead to a real cessation of hostilities on the ground.

Our negotiating panel should ask for a clearer position from the communists regarding what they euphemistically call “revolutionary taxation.” The welfare of millions is at stake.