NPA---government's tax collector?

I was totally amused by what Maria Malaya, spokesperson of the NPA-NDF unit that attacked the Taganito mines in Surigao said. The rebels issued a statement justifying the attack on the nickel mines which resulted to the deaths of three security guards and destroyed US$ 1.2 billion worth of mining equipment. 


Aside from the usual refrain that they are punishing the company for destroying the environment for thirty years and oppressing workers of the mine, Malaya said that Nickel Asia is also an errant tax payer. 


To quote Malaya: " Nickel Asia's tax payments should be 400 million pesos. But through direct bribery and other means, the company only pays the government, 40 million pesos. That's why they need to be punished"


What? When did the NPA's become government's armed tax collector? I mean, what's the correlation between payment of taxes with that of revolutionary struggle? Let me re-publish their statement thru ABS-CBNnews.com


Really, I don't want to believe that the New People's Army is so concerned with government failing to hit their revenue target?


I thought Congressman Ronnie Zamora, brother of Manuel Zamora who owns this mine is so "influential" with Bayan Muna, the legal front of the CPP-NDF? What happened?


With the attack, it left more than 3,000 workers there in Surigao, one of the poorest regions in the Philippines, without work or money. 


Worse, what will the families of the three innocent security guards say? The rebels killed three innocent breadwinners. What will now happen to the families of these victims?


I hate to speculate, but it's totally possible that the NPA's are being used by several high powerful interests in totally influencing the movement of mineral stocks? Nickel prices would surely be affected if Nickel Asia continues stoppage of operations.

Reds justify attacks on Surigao mines

By Dharel Placido, abs-cbnNews.com

Posted at 10/04/2011 10:54 AM | Updated as of 10/04/2011 2:01 PM

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MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – The New People’s Army (NPA) admitted on Tuesday it was behind theattacks on several mining facilities of Nickel Asia Corporation in Surigao del Norte on Monday, saying “it is only right to punish this company.”

In a statement, National Democratic Front of the Philippines – North Eastern Mindanao Region Spokesperson Maria Malaya said the attack was in retaliation against the Manuel B. Zamora-led Taganito Mining Corporation (TMC), which the group alleged has “ravaged the area for nearly 30 years.”

Malaya added the attack was “in the implementation of the policy of the revolutionary movement related to the protection of the environment and natural resources and the defense of the rights of the Lumad people, peasants, and workers.”

The Maoist group also accused the mining firm of repressing workers’ rights and evading millions of taxes.

“Instead of remitting P400 million in taxes to the [local government], through sheer bribery, the company is now only paying the local government P40 million. It is only right to punish this company,” Malaya said. (Since when did these rebels become government tax collectors–Ed)

Suspension of operations, extortion

Around 200 to 300 rebels on Monday attacked Taganito Mining Corporation (TMC) in Claver town, resulting in the destruction of several facilities.

Taganito is a unit of Nickel Asia Corp., which is partly owned by Japan’s Sumitomo Metal Mining Co Ltd.

Another group of rebels attacked the nearby Platinum Metals Group Corp. also in Claver. Three hours later, another mine site operated by another Taganito company, Taganito HPAL Corporation, was also attacked by rebels.

The attack forced Nickel Asia to suspend its operations indefinitely.

The military said one of the reasons for the attack was the company’s refusal to pay “revolutionary taxes” to the rebels.

“These acts were a form of punishment because mine owners did not give in to the extortion demands,”