8ID appeals to local bets not to fall prey to NPA extortion

From the Leyte Samar Daily Express (Jan 28): 8ID appeals to local bets not to fall prey to NPA extortion

Candidates running in this year’s midterm elections should not succumb to the demand of the rebel group’s so-called permit to campaign or to win fee from the New People’s Army.  This was the appeal issued by Captain Gene Orense, spokesperson of the 8th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army based in Catbalogan City, Samar.

Orense said that the Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee and its armed group the New People’s Army are currently intensifying their extortion activities not only to ordinary businessmen, farmers but also to candidates for elective position through their permit to campaign and win fees in rebel-controlled areas.

“We are making an appeal to all local candidates for the May 2013 elections to refuse any offer of PTC and PTW fees by the NPAs. Instead let us work together through the spirit of ‘Bayanihan’ in ensuring a secured and fair election,” Orense said.

Communist rebels reportedly are cashing on the 2013 elections by imposing PTC and PTW fees of up to P5 million on political candidates.

Orense added that recently, the military recovered subversive documents revealing that one of the NPA plans in the region is to implement the PTC and PTW scheme to all local candidates for the May 2013 elections.

Based on the NPA documents reportedly recovered by the military troops, the NPA in Eastern Visayas is allegedly collecting PTC/PTW fees ranging from P50,000 to P5 million.

A candidate for congressman is asked P500,000; while governor and vice governor are supposed to pay P5 million and P500,000, respectively.

A board member and a mayoralty aspirant is asked P100,000; vice-mayor, P75,000; and councilor, P50,000.

Orense said that aside from the PTC and PTW fees, the NPA is also extorting high powered firearms or an equivalent amount of P180,000 per candidate.

“In the said document, it disclosed that during the previous local elections, the NPA was able to collect PTC and PTW fees coming from the local candidates in the region,” Orense added.

During the 2004 elections, a reelectionist lady town mayor together with her entire slate in Samar were abducted by NPA rebels while on a campaign trail due to their failure to give to their demand of permit to campaign fee.

But this was denied by the NPA, saying they do not demand any permit to campaign or win fee.
The military, however, said that under the scheme, candidates can conduct their campaign in villages under the “influence” of the rebels and would help to ensure their winning.

Based on their records, there are about 120 barangays across the region which are still considered to be an “NPA-influenced.”

http://leytesamardaily.net/2013/01/8id-appeals-to-local-bets-not-to-fall-prey-to-npa-extortion/