WHILE the third round of the peace negotiations between the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) was ongoing in Rome, Italy, the military accused the New People’s Army (NPA) of continuing its extortion activities in the countryside. The military said the encounters happened after the group harassed a truck following a failed extortion attempt from a construction company. Several extortion letters signed by a certain Ricardo Fermiza, spokesman of Guerilla 51, Davao del Sur-North Cotabato Operation Command of the NPA Southern Mindanao Region were also recovered. On Monday, Rigoberto Sanchez, NPA spokesman, said insurgents killed eight army soldiers in fierce clashes in Makilala town. “It is very sad that while the peace talks is on-going, there are armed groups who continue to use force and violence to terrorize and extort from the people,” Valencia said.

Source: Manila Times January 23, 2017 12:40 UTC