.jpg)
ATTY. MEL STA. MARIA: The advantage, questions, standard of a Corona testimony
Jessica Sanchez's rival in 'Idol' crown has severe kidney problems, needs immediate surgery - TMZ
Sensational Samal: More people flock to town of Jessica's mom after Sanchez makes it to Idol finale
NATO activates missile shield, reaches out to Russia
InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines -- After receiving a threatening extortion letter allegedly from the Communist Party of the Philippines, three German-run hospitals offering free services to poor Mindanao patients will suspend its out-patient operations for at least two days.
Committee of German Doctors country director Dietmar Schug, in an interview Tuesday, said he will be forced to close the three hospitals in Valencia and Bukidnon-Davao Boundary (both in Bukidnon) and in Mortola Street (this city) to walk-ins should the security of their doctors and other personnel continue to be threatened.
“If our safety and security cannot be assured and we can’t go on working or operating in the (region), then we will be forced to close all our hospitals to out-patients (walk-ins),” Schug said.
Each of the three hospitals receives at least 650 out-patients every day, he said.
‘Revolutionary tax’
On June 8, the committee’s office secretary received a hand-delivered letter dated May 16, 2011 and addressed to Schug. Signed by “Ka Aimee Malingkawas” with a heading “Communist Party of the Philippines-MLM, Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas,” the Maoist insurgents accused the charitable medical organization of “masquerading in helping and aiding the masses to accumulate more funds from abroad,” and for “giving false hopes to the masses.”
“A revolutionary tax of five million pesos should be given within two weeks from receipt of this letter,” the letter demanded.
It also claimed to know the residential address of Schug and knew the names of his wife and two children.
“Never attempt to bring this matter to the authorities otherwise it will jeopardize the safety of your organization and family (names of Schug’s wife and two children),” the letter stated.
“We will (be) watching and monitoring your every move and we will not hesitate to take necessary action if ever you failed our demand,” the letter continued.
In an interview, Schug said the hospitals do not earn profits unlike business entities in the region.
Three days after he received the letter, Schug said he received several calls from two different male voices, saying they will burn down one of their hospitals in Bukidnon should German Doctors fail to deliver the demanded amount.
“No, we will not pay. If we pay, we will be closed for a whole month,” he said when asked if their organization is contemplating on giving in to the demand.
Regardless of creed and political belief
“We do not treat patients based on their creed, race or political beliefs. The only qualification that we require to receive treatment is that you are poor and could not afford medical attention,” Schug said.
“Yes, we receive funds but we don’t accumulate it. We receive grants from abroad but we spend it for our operations here,” he added.
Schug said the continued operations here in Mindanao hinges on the German doctors who are willing to do voluntary work.
“We are just a small NGO,” he said.
Not genuine CPP demand
However, Schug believes the CPP is not behind the extortion letter.
“I totally believe this letter does not come from the genuine left. It would be counter intuitive to a revolutionary movement to extort from an organization servicing the poor masses. If they are a real liberation movement then they should support what we are doing with the masses,” he said.
“Sometimes, we even get to treat their comrades,” Schug added.
Police Colonel Noel Armilla of the Philippine National Police Regional Investigation and Intelligence Division based in Camp Ernesto Alagar, Lapasan, this city, concurred in a separate interview.
“This is the handiwork of people who don’t want to be identified. They terrorize but do not have the capability,” he said.
He also said that there is no such security threat in the region and that the extortion letter is not connected to the Maoist insurgents.
“Usually, the CPP do not send letters to demand revolutionary taxes but send representatives in person to explain and collect the revolutionary taxes. From our experience, letter sending is not a signature move of the NPA (New People’s Army),” Armilla said.
In a text message, a long-standing member of the CPP based here in the city said the letter is the handiwork of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ propaganda machinery.
“Alam mo, black propaganda ng AFP yan: the same aging, has-been and Jurassic black propaganda offensive of AFP. A revolutionary movement does not resort to burning of hospitals and schools. That’s against their principles and policy on the conduct of war. It is AFP black propaganda, nothing more, nothing less,” the text message read.
Extortion activities
In a phone interview, Maj. Osias, spokesperson of the 4th Infantry “Diamond” Division-Philippine Army based at Camp Edilberto Evangelista, Patag, this city, said that it would be premature to discount the CPP as one of the suspects in the extortion pending the outcome of an investigation.
“It is still premature to say that CPP did not do this since there is still no official denial from the party leadership,” he said.
“If the supposed letter did have the official insignia or logo of the CPP it still could come from them. Minsan nga hand-written lang ang letters asking revolutionary tax,” said Osias.
On top of the situation
Armilla, for his part, assured the German Doctors that they are taking the matter seriously and are on top of the situation.
“We have coordinated with the (Cagayan de Oro City) Mayor’s Office and currently conducting profiling the suspect based on the extortion letter. We are back-tracking, investigating and tapped networks in the intelligence community in identifying the suspect,” he said.
“We want the German Doctors to continue operating here. We cannot afford to lose this NGO who caters to poor people in the region. We have also communicated with the provincial director of Misamis Oriental to secure the residences of Schug and his staff of volunteers,” said Armilla.
The German Doctors has been operating in Mindanao since 1985. At any given time, 10 German doctors and one dentist are on assignment. Aside from its three hospitals, it also has rolling clinics serving the rural population.
