• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The death of Hans Ponteras, who was the sitting secretary and finance head of the New People’s Army (NPA) Komiteng Rehiyon-Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor (KR-NCBS), was described by the Philippine Army as a major blow to the rebel remnants’ extortion networks.
Lt. Col. Arnel Calaoagan, 79th Infantry Battalion (IB) commander, said in a statement the stoppage of KR-NCBS’s extortion racket is a huge win for peace and security in Negros Island Region.
“Without funds and leaders, their operations crumble, and the communities they once terrorized can finally thrive without fear,” he added.
Ponteras was among the two regional officials of KR-NCBS who died in an encounter with 79IB soldiers in Barangay Caduhaan, Cadiz City, Negros Occidental on March 8.
With the information provided by former rebels, Calaoagan said they successfully disrupted the NPA’s extortion activities in Negros Island, particularly those led by the notorious “Armando Magbanua.”
For decades, the name “Armando Magbanua” of the Apolinario Gatmaitan Command has been synonymous with fear and coercion among businessmen, planters, contractors and civilians across the Visayas, he added.
However, intelligence operations and testimonies from former rebels have revealed that “Armando Magbanua” is not a single person, but a pseudonym systematically used by the KR -NCBS finance officer for their extortion activities.
These individuals were handpicked for their role in overseeing the extortion machinery of KR-NCBS responsible for collecting the so-called “revolutionary taxes”.
Calaoagan said the use of the name “Armando Magbanua” served a dual purpose – to maintain secrecy and to instill a continuous sense of threat, regardless of who occupied the role.
Under this banner, various NPA finance officers pressured individuals and corporations into paying exorbitant amounts, funding terrorist activities while leaving their victims in a constant state of fear, he added.
Calaoagan said called on business owners, local leaders, and communities to reject any form of NPA extortion and to report any suspicious activities. | GB
