Siargao Island - Violence, Police Extortion, NPA Extortion, Jail and my escape from Manila

Siargao Island - Violence, Police Extortion, NPA Extortion, Jail and my escape from Manila 

submitted 12 hours ago by Andrew


I have been reading various posts in reddit about the Philippines and the NPA.

I think most people have the false impression of the NPA, I had a horrendous experience with them on Siargao Island. Most people when they hear NPA think of the rebels hiding out in the jungles and mountains with machine guns ready to attack.

This is false. Yes there is the military wing however the NPA needs to be thought of like the Mafia. The habal habal driver is NPA, the fish vendor is NPA, the copra labourer is NPA, the surf instructor is NPA - its a network of families binded together by blood ties. Non NPA families are totally ignorant of their control and presence.

In Siargao Island, the Mayor has no power, the Police have no power, the Congressman has no power. The NPA commander is actually the Congressmans Administrator. Thus, all levels of government operate as mere facade for the the NPA. I had numerous impromptu dinners at the home of the NPA Commander and Congressman in General Luna. I did think it was odd that the Congressman travelled to the Administrators property for dinner on these occasions, until I realised the real power structure of Siargao Island.

My neighbour Mr Gopiko he tried to steal my land as he had no access to the main road from his property. So with the help of the NPA they hatched a plan to try and steal it, the story is long and convoluted but result was their plan failed! I kept my ongoing lease.

AS a result of this misadventure I cam e to know more and more about how the organisation operates. however the more I learnt the more dangerous it became for me. After living at Cloud 9 for 15 years I can never return.

What I found really disturbing is the NPA franchise does not operate according to any communist ideals - its pure greed. The NPA Commander, who is the Congressmans Administrater, who is my extortionist is also the DRUG LORD.

The island is awash in methamphetamine, the only people that go to jail for any meth charges are those that have credit to the boss - full stop, thats it pure and simple. The drug dealers get given the Meth or Shabu to onsell, they are then required to pay remittance back to the boss twice daily. If they fail to pay and their credit increases over a period of time, the PDEA agents are notified and magically the only people to get apprehended are those with the credit to the boss.

No credit no jail - here lies problem for the police and the Mayor! They know they have no power, the NPA has far greater resources than both the Mayor and the PNP. The commander controls the island, if the police were to apprehend any of the drug users, this would impinge on the Commmanders Empire and trouble starts.

This trouble results in the military coming to the island in a display of force - look back to articles from the 2008 attacks.

The drug problem is caused by the Mafia esk NPA organisation but the blame is given to a lazy police force. Foreigners even suggested to me that its the police who are selling the shabu. Well yes they are mid level dealers however whose Shabu are they selling? That would be owned by the NPA.

What I know here is absolutely correct.

FYI - I am Australian, lived on Siargao for 15 years and had a good handle on Surgiaonon.

IS is safe to travel their - yea I think it is, however make no plans for laying down your roots. The NPA commander is pure evil, I chat daily with my "friendly NPA friends" who are all devastated for me about what happened. But the truth is, they know the NPA are in total control.

I should also add that the secrecy of this organisation is mind-blowing, it took me a long long time to figure this out.

I have completed my book on my adventure, the NPA commander is still holding papers to my land, but I believe he may cooperate.

So anyways thats the inside info on the NPA at Siargao Island.
 


Source:  https://www.reddit.com/r/Philippines/comments/3hptis/siargao_island_violence_police_extortion_npa/