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Military accuses MILF of extortion
THE secessionist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is taking advantage of the present lull in military operations in Mindanao to further their extortion activities on civilians, the military said Friday.
| Comes as a surprise, huh? Floored me, too... |
Maj. Gen. Raul Relano, Armed Forces deputy chief of staff for civil military operations (J7), said MILF members have been threatening to abduct civilians who refuse to give protection money. "Even teachers who do not receive sufficient wages are being forced by some members of the MILF to pay protection money or else they will be kidnapped," he said. Relano said they were informed of the MILF's extortion activity when a group of teachers from the Alliance of Volunteer Educators came to them to express alarm over the activities of the Muslim group. Investigations done by the military's 44th Infantry Battalion confirmed that since August 4 this year, undetermined copies of extortion letters were sent to teachers working in three public elementary schools in Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte. "The MILF is requesting a P200 monthly contribution from these teachers," Relano said, adding that the letters presented to the military by the alliance bear an MILF seal and the signature of a certain Commander Suya Arasid, alias Puti Ulo/Batang Dagat.
| Got copies of the letters, huh? |
MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu, however, denied that their units are involved in extortion. "That's a total lie. That report is fabricated. The MILF has no involvement in that shameful act," he said.
| But then, Eid's lips fell off years ago... |
Posted by: Fred Pruitt 2003-10-04 |
