With contractors being demanded of revolutionary taxes did it mean that rebels were back in business?

This was the question that came to mind following reports that certain contractors have received notice regarding the collection of revolutionary taxes. For obvious reasons, contractors declined to openly confirm or deny the story for fear that they would be courting with danger. “Yes, we have receive demands but don’t quote me,” one contractor said. The contractor, however, was quick to say it cannot yet be ascertained if the demands indeed came from the rebels. He acknowledged though that the pattern is “similar” to the one used by the rebels in the past.

In the middle 80s and early 90s, Bohol became the regional base of the underground Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA). At the height of their influence in Bohol, the rebels demanded “revolutionary taxes” from businessmen who operate in areas they operate. During elections, the rebels also demanded that politicians pay “access fees” to allow them to campaign in areas where they have established their presence. Those who refuse to pay were ambushed or harassed. The military, however, call these demands plain extortion and warn those who give in to them of being brought to court.

Tagbilaran Mayor Dan Lim noted that there has been no official statement on the matter from Gov. Edgar Chatto. The mayor dared Chatto to either confirm or deny the reports. “There are only two choices: to deny these stories as nothing but figments of imagination or to admit that there are indications that the rebels are back,” he added. Lim said that securing the peace and order in Bohol is imperative especially because tourism is the priority project of the provincial government.The mayor noted that Chatto has the capability of dealing with the threat in his capacity as chairman of the Regional Peace and Order Council. He added that there is a need to address the report instead of merely hoping that it will die down.

“It is no longer possible to suppress information because these days it is very easy to send text messages when something happens,” he added. The mayor pointed out that even repressive regimes in the Middle East failed to suppress the truth because technology has become a great equalizer. Last month, an estimated 200 armed NPA rebels attacked a mining operation in Surigao that inflicted heavy losses to the firms involved. The rebels justified the attacks as a punishment for the destruction of the environment but government sources said it was due to their refusal to pay revolutionary taxes demanded by the rebels.