From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 13): NegOcc guv says ‘insurgency becoming a business,’ calls anew for local peace talks
Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. said Thursday the insurgency movement in the country is becoming a business as he reiterated his call for localized peace talks with the rebels.
"The biggest problem we have right now is poverty. We have to join hands and work together and not fight each other," he said.
Marañon said he believes that the civilians who support the rebels are not supporting them for their ideology but for the business venture insurgency has become especially for its leaders.
They should stop their support for the rebels, and should instead support the government, the governor said.
Marañon cited the big revolutionary taxes the rebels impose on people in the hinterland areas especially during the elections as well as “access fees” they impose on candidates.
To counter insurgency, the provincial government has been bringing projects and services to the people especially in the hinterland areas of the first district in northernNegros .
Moreover, the governor also said that government forces should be prepared for any atrocities usually launched by the New People's Army (NPA) during their anniversary on March 29.
Col. Jon Aying, commander of 303rd Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army in Negros Occidental, said they are monitoring the movements of the NPA rebels and they are extra cautious as NPA’s 45th year approaches.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=625301
Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. said Thursday the insurgency movement in the country is becoming a business as he reiterated his call for localized peace talks with the rebels.
"The biggest problem we have right now is poverty. We have to join hands and work together and not fight each other," he said.
Marañon said he believes that the civilians who support the rebels are not supporting them for their ideology but for the business venture insurgency has become especially for its leaders.
They should stop their support for the rebels, and should instead support the government, the governor said.
Marañon cited the big revolutionary taxes the rebels impose on people in the hinterland areas especially during the elections as well as “access fees” they impose on candidates.
To counter insurgency, the provincial government has been bringing projects and services to the people especially in the hinterland areas of the first district in northern
Moreover, the governor also said that government forces should be prepared for any atrocities usually launched by the New People's Army (NPA) during their anniversary on March 29.
Col. Jon Aying, commander of 303rd Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army in Negros Occidental, said they are monitoring the movements of the NPA rebels and they are extra cautious as NPA’s 45th year approaches.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=625301