NPA Attacks Mining Firm in Compostela Valley

For the second time within a year, I received a frantic SMS from one of my friends. The mining company that he works for has been attacked by NPA rebels. The first attack happened last year, early at night while most of the employees were having dinner. No gunshots were fired, but the NPAs stayed for a couple of days and destroyed some expensive machinery.

Last night, I received the message at around 12 midnight. The rebels never reached the employees’ residences and staff houses but gunshots were fired. Allegedly, a truck full of NPA rebels dressed in military attire tried to enter the premises but ended up exchanging shots with the PNP, military, and company security. Nobody has been reported to be injured. There is no news yet if machinery or equipment was damaged.

Some people contend the attack may have been caused by the company’s non-payment of revolutionary taxes. And that is reason enough for the rebels to raid or attack the firm. Seriously?

While companies, government officials, and businessmen can definitely say no to paying revolutionary taxes, fight against this perverted corrupted system, lives and livelihood are put at risk. I admire those who choose to resist against the NPAs “revolutionary taxes.” But what can they really do? Do they have what it takes to protect themselves and their interests against the inevitable attacks by the NPA? What choice to they really have, right?

Companies must resist and not encourage the sort of terrorism that the NPA does. On the other hand, are they really willing to risk their lives, their employees’ lives and their businesses? Those who really hold the power here are the government who should aggressively fight for peace. Rather than grandstand and electioneer, they should work towards a better solution other than posting enough PNP and army personnel. The NPA, undeniably, also holds a power in this situation. They have their army, they have the gunpower, they certainly have the will.

But what is the NPA fighting for anyway? The regime they were fighting for has long been gone. Although the government and the status quo is very much chaotic and imperfect, the NPA, in my opinion, is doing nothing to improve the situation. Rather, they are doing exactly what they are supposed to be fighting against. Heavy taxation without any real fruits or accomplishments. Oppression. Terrorism. Abuse. Violence. These are what they do and stand for right now. They can continue deluding themselves into thinking they are revolutionaries seeking for a better Philippines, but we all know what is true. They have degraded themselves into worse animals than those they originally fought against.

The NPA used to believe in something. They used to fight for something. But does it remain to be relevant and effective to this day? I don’t think so. They are nothing more than terrorists. And yes, a lot of people are afraid to speak against them for fear of their lives and safety. But I am not one of those. It has to be said. The NPA is not what it used to be. There are no principles and values that they fight for anymore. They have nothing left but greed and delusions.

Attacks like these deserve national attention. This must not happen again, to my friend’s workplace or anywhere else. The government and all those attention-seeking politicians must do something.

3 Responses to “NPA Attacks Mining Firm in Compostela Valley”

1. MiGs says:

   May 29, 2009 at 1:59 am

   amen to that!
2. the jester-in-exile says:

   May 29, 2009 at 2:23 am

   “The NPA is not what it used to be. There are no principles and values that they fight for anymore. They have nothing left but greed and delusions.”

   indeed, and should be treated as any bandit group should be: with extreme prejudice.
3. vince says:

   July 6, 2010 at 4:51 pm

   Jester, I have been in other
   News discussions sites. The NPA are just a bunch of bandits. They really have no clear causes. Just look at their leader Joma living the live abroad, while his soldiers live in caves.