(Conclusion)“They (NPAs) have even resorted into issuing ‘permits-to-win’ in other areas as if to guarantee victory to some politicians,” said Lt. Gen. Jorge Segovia, commanding general of the AFP’s Eastern Mindanao Command.
Segovia however could not provide intelligence information on how much the rebels were able to raise from their PTCs in the 2010 elections. Ka Simeon said they have established organs of political power in various levels and is believed to have at least a town-level shadow governm ent in some parts of the island where they operate, with their own taxation and “rebel justice” systems.
In private, though, the military has admitted to the increased rebel strength in the eastern and central areas of Mindanao, according to a source who was invited to one of closed-door military briefings.
The NPA raid of Taganito Mines and two other Sumitomo-owned mining companies, which destroyed more than half a billion pesos (US$12 million) worth of equipment and properties without inflicting a single casualty, is too daring to ignore.
With over 32 guerrilla fronts in the island, the NPAs in Mindanao are said to be the strongest throughout the country with at least half of its total armed strength scattered all over the Mindanao main island.
Again, the Davao and Caraga regions are where the rebels are at their strongest strength despite repeatedly downplaying of their capabilities by the military.
Mining
Incidentally, it is also in the Caraga region (Agusan and Surigao provinces) where most mining firms already operating are located.
Logging operations used to be the rich supply of rebel funds but with diminishing forests and renewed anti-logging campaign, the rebels have turned into mining as primary revenue source. In contrast with the Aquino government, the rebels appear to be more accommodating to small scale mining operations than large commercial mining companies.
Madlos said mining has replaced logging as the top “destroyer” of the environment in Mindanao and they have issued veiled and direct threats against operations of large scale mining companies in the island.
The Aquino government however considers mining as key to economic development in the country and wants bigger share in the revenues and taxes as a matter of policy while regulating and restricting small scale miners in government designated areas.
Old habits die hard
Segovia however said the NPAs are just covering up losses in the battlefield by conducting series of media interviews.
“These are designed to boost the morale of their fighters to cover up atrocities they are committing against the lumads (indigenous tribes),” Segovia said in a phone interview.
Late last month, NPA guerillas waylaid tribal leader Cawsing Ogaw whom they accused of working for the military in a rebel checkpoint in Marilog district, Davao City. A separate NPA unit also ambushed and
killed paramilitary leader Abantas Ansabo alias Kumander Ibon whom the rebels accused of killing at least 19 peasants and lumad supporters in Arakan, Cotabato. Both killings happened on the same day, July 27.
These, according to Segovia, have alienated the NPAs who he claimed have become more and more dogmatic.“ Old habits die hard. This (dogmatism) will be the cause of their downfall,” he said.
Despite increased armed rebel activities which included a raid at a mining firm in Agusan del Sur which netted 17 high powered rifles for the NPAs, Segovia said the NPAs in his area of responsibility are down to less than 1,500 and belied claims the rebels are gaining strength (the Eastern Mindanao Command of the AFP covers the Socsksargen, Davao, Caraga and Central Mindanao regions).
“They have suffered heavy losses nationwide that is why it is giving an impression they are getting stronger in eastern Mindanao,” Segovia explained. [MindaNews/Edwin Espejo writes for the asiancorrespondent.com.]
