Insurgents that turned into Extortion

When I was just a kid, my teachers told me that Philippines had overcome hardships, it was conquered 3 times (almost 4 if we consider the Britons), and it had been through a war that devastated not only the economy but also the lives of every Filipino family.
My teachers infused to my mind that without the courage of the forefathers, Philippines would still be in the palm of the colonizers, but as time goes by, and as I am on the process of learning, conspiracies of the past came to life and truth finding questions haunt me.
KKK ( Kataastaasang Kagalanggalang Katipunan ng Anak ng Bayan), the society of the revolution, changed the tide of events and was founded by Andres Bonifacio, a poor man but with a heart of a revolutionist. He started to suppress the imperialists and bring reform to the country. This is the part of history that has been taught to Filipino students for a century now. But what was kept hidden?
Every society must have funds to start the journey towards its goal. The KKK, most especially must have funds to continue their fight against the suppressors. These questions begin to arise: How did they come up with the funds, how were the funds collected, and where did the funds go?
Funds financed war, most especially the weapons needed by the katipuneros. Funds were collected in meetings and sometimes by appointed people like Gen. Jose Paua, a Filipino-Chinese mestizo that fought beside Bonifacio and Aguinaldo. We the students have been taught by our history teachers that the funds came from the blood and sweat of the hard working katipuneros and the warm hearts of the native Filipinos who were willing to support the revolution. But was this the only way they raised the funds?
If we look back in time, during the pre-Spanish and American Revolution, there existed tons of issues and conspiracies that changed the revolution. Making the history of the uprising (if I may say) messed up.
As I’ve said earlier, General Jose Paua, was the person appointed by Aguinaldo not only to lead the uprising in Bicol region against the Americans but to collect funds as well as for military purposes.
“He had been sent by Aguinaldo to collect funds from the Chinese merchants in Bicol…”
Revolutionary Clergy pp. 169

In 1898, a kidnap for ransom also known as “dukut” was reported, many of these cases involved the Chinese merchants and worst, and it was done by the Filipino soldiers whom we taught are patriots. According to some reports, Gen. Paua led the “dukut” and American’s attention was not called in order to hold the feeling of fear.
Other kinds of extortion had also been prominent those days which includes sacking of goods and even putting taxes on entering and leaving products in the streets of Manila most especially in Malate, Paco, and Ermita. Within these places, the name of General Pio Del Pilar rose, he was accused that he wasn’t being dedicated to the president. Even though the issues of extortion had been heard and reported to the president of the Philippines, it seems that less action took place for the reason that cases of extortion still occurred or maybe there was no action done at all since the criminals involved are the soldiers of the government.
As we can see today, it’s as if history repeats itself. The Filipinos have not changed in a hundred years time. We can compare the kidnap for ransom done by the soldiers in the past, to the so called ABU SAYAFF, Islamic terrorists that continue to abduct foreigners for profit. The Government has been battling the terrorist groups for decades, but still the Abu Sayaff continue freely do what they want. Is there really any necessary steps taken by the government in solving such matters? Or is their a scheme behind this conspiracy?
Recently 3 Red Cross volunteers were kidnapped in the province of Sulu. A Filipina named Lacaba, a Swiss named Andréa Notter and an Italian named Vagni. The first hostage released was Lacaba, followed by the controversial escape of Notter. There goes the big question. Most of the military personnel were in search, technological advancements were within their grasps in locating the precise position of the bandits, why haven’t they found the place? Is it really because that the government earns something from them or is it because the issue regarding the CHA-CHA is more important.
As the insurgence rise due to poverty continues, like in those days of uprising for liberty and freedom extortion continues to grow with it and corrupt the place of heroes.
“History doesn’t repeat itself, we repeat history “