Comelec discourages candidates from paying campaign tax to NPAs

From the Philippine News Agency (Nov 6): Comelec discourages candidates from paying campaign tax to NPAs

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is discouraging political candidates from paying the so-called campaign tax to the New People’s Army (NPA). Atty. Ryan Castro, Comelec legal officer in Region 6, said politicians being extorted by the NPAs should rather immediately coordinate with the Philippine Army so they could be provided with protection. Col. Arnold Quiapo of the 301st Philippine Army Infantry Brigade, in a recent interview, said there are already about three political candidates from Panay island who have reported receiving feelers from the NPAs. “We learned that the rebels are already sending feelers not only for their tax campaign but also for the permit to campaign and permit to sure win,” Quiapo said. As the election time nears, he said the rebel group is also becoming aggressive in collecting money from political candidates....

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=468761