PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte warned communist rebels to stop extorting people in the countryside in the guise of a “revolutionary tax,” saying only the government has the power of taxation.
In an interview in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, Duterte ordered the Armed Forces and the police to stop using the term “revolutionary tax” to describe what is clearly extortion.
“That is not a proper word for us to adopt. Because this is a government, we have taxation. Don’t counter it a revolutionary tax. Use the word ‘extortion,’ ‘hold-upper’ or ‘kidnapper,’” Duterte said.
He warned that he would file extortion charges against the rebels based on the Revised Penal Code.
Duterte condoled with the families of the six policemen killed in an ambush by the New People’s Army on July 21.
He then urged the NPA members to surrender to their barangay captains and be given decent jobs.
“Your barangay captain will accompany you to any of the police, military. They’ll give you a job,” he said.
Asked if more forces are needed in Negros to respond to increasing NPA attacks, the President said the situation is still manageable.
A ranking communist leader and three other insurgents and a policemen were killed after fierce fighting broke out between the NPA and government troops in two fronts in Luzon Friday morning.
Three government soldiers were also wounded in a clash alongt the ridges of Pangasinan and Sorsogon Friday.
Supt. Nonito Marquez of the Police Community Relations Office identified the slain NPA leader as Andres Hubilla, also known as Magno and Bunso, Secretary of the Kilusang Propaganda-3 of the Provincial Regional Bicol Committee. The identities of the three other rebels slain were not immediately known.
Marquez said the latest clashes occurred after government troops on combat patrol chanced upon some 30 armed fighters in Sitio Namoro, Brgy. Trece Martires, Casiguran, Sorsogon at about 5:05 a.m.
The Sorsogon clashed erupted barely two days after heavily armed NPA rebels launched series of attacks in Surigao del Sur, burning heavy equipment belonging to the Charles Construction Co. and torching a portion of the Dole-Stanfilo banana plantation.
The NPA also disarmed Vice Mayor Emmanuel Suarez of Cortes town and gunned down unidentified militiaman in Butuan City as President Duterte delivered his second State of the Nation Address on Monday.
Days before the Sona the communist movement threatened to launched a series of offensives against government forces following the President’s termination of peace talks.
Marquez said the fighting between the 30 rebels led by Marquez and security forces from the Sorsogon Police Provincial Office along with police intelligence and soldiers of the 31st Infantry Battalion lasted for about 3o minutes, after which the rebel band fled leaving the body of Hubilla and three of his comrades.
In Pangasinan, a policeman was killed and three others wounded when a police contingent encountered NPA rebels at the mountain ranges in San Nicolas town.
Lt. Col Isagani Nato, Public Affairs Office director of the Northern Luzon Command said the fighting took place at the hinterland villages of Malico and Sta. Maria at about 9:30 a.m. Thursday.