TACLOBAN CITY – The chief of the Civil Relations Service (CRS) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines was impressed by the decision of the management of the Eastern Visayas Seafood Corporation of Philip Canning Factory to resume operation last week despite threat of extortion by the NPA rebels.

Major Neneveigh Alcovindas said the alleged extortion activities, which us making investors their milking cow, can be thwarted.

“Their extortion will not prosper if we will not bend to their demands,” Alcovindas said.

He said that in its campaign against insurgency the military calls for the full cooperation and support of different government agencies, barangay officials, NGOs and other concerned individuals so that this problem could be properly addressed and the root cause determined.

“We can eradicate these pestering acts of the communist guerillas by all possible means, so that we can entice tourist’s as well both foreign and local investors to bring their business ventures to the country to ultimately generate employment and development not only in Region 8, but other parts of the country’s as well, Alcovindas said.

According to him, the reopening of the crab meat factory is a quantum leap in fighting the insurgency problem and must serve as wake up call not only to investors but also to politicians, businessmen and civilians, not to give in to the caprices of the rebels but instead report these similar activities to the police and military authorities.

As the plant resumed operations and the 201 workers reinstalled, the military and police authorities have insured the security of the entire plant of the company.

But NDF spokesperson Fr. Santiago Salas denied earlier that they gave an ultimatum to the management of the factory inn demanding to pay the revolutionary tax, claiming that the EVSC management was just trying to avoid paying the Christmas benefits of the workers