PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO SENT OUT ABOUT 1,500 SOLDIERS ON THURSDAY TO PURSUE COMMUNIST GUERRILLAS EXTORTING "REVOLUTIONARY TAXES" FROM BUSINESSES IN THREE AREAS OUTSIDE MANILA, REUTERS REPORTED. LAST WEEK, ARROYO GAVE HER GENERALS AN EXTRA 1 BILLION PESOS ($18.7 MILLION) TO STEP UP THE FIGHT AGAINST A MAOIST-LED REBELLION THAT HAS KILLED MORE THAN 40,000 PEOPLE AND STUNTED GROWTH IN THE SOUTHEAST ASIAN COUNTRY SINCE THE LATE 1960S. "IF THEY'RE ON THE RUN, THEIR CAPABILITY TO INFLICT HARDSHIPS ON OUR PEOPLE WOULD BE LESSENED," ARROYO TOLD TROOPS AT THE MAIN MILITARY CAMP IN THE CAPITAL. "WE WILL DEPLOY MORE BATTALIONS IN AREAS WHERE WE'RE GETTING COMPLAINTS OF REBEL TAXATION FROM OUR BUSINESSMEN." ARROYO HAS ORDERED THE ARMY TO PULL OUT TROOPS FACING MUSLIM REBELS ON THE SOUTHERN ISLAND OF MINDANAO AS THE GOVERNMENT AND THE MORO ISLAMIC LIBERATION FRONT CONTINUE TALKS TO END 40 YEARS OF CONFLICT THAT HAS KILLED 120,000 PEOPLE IN THE SOUTH. NEARLY 5,000 SOLDIERS WILL BE RE-DEPLOYED TO AREAS WHERE COMMUNIST REBELS OF THE NEW PEOPLE'S ARMY (NPA) ARE ESPECIALLY ACTIVE -- FROM THE NORTHEASTERN PART OF THE COUNTRY DOWN TO THE EASTERN REGION OF THE CENTRAL PHILIPPINES.
