Army intensifies internal security operations to avoid ‘permit-to-campaign fees’

From the Philippine Information Agency (Feb 4): Army intensifies internal security operations to avoid ‘permit-to-campaign fees’

The Philippine Army (PA) unit based here has intensified internal security operations to eliminate an armed group’s modus of collecting fees for "permit-to-campaign" to candidates of this province and ensure peace and order in the May 2013 elections.

Lt. Col. Michael M. Buhat, commanding officer of the Army's 49th Infantry Battalion, said during the Philippine Information Agency's "Talakayan" held here recently, that the army unit has initiated internal security operations in 61 villages out of 70 rebel-infested barangays. Camarines Norte is comprised of 282 barangays.

Buhat said out of the 61 bayanihan activities conducted last year, 41 were declared cleared barangays while 20 have on going operations.

He said the army will deploy personnel in these barangays while conducting nine bayanihan activities in the towns of Labo with four and Sta. Elena with five infested with the armed New People’s Army (NPA).

Buhat said the unit will also conduct clearing operations in the barangay according to the request of the candidates on the campaign period.

He added that they were in pursuit of the armed group after the encounter which happened on January 23 in the town of San Lorenzo Ruiz where there were no casualty on both sides.

Police Senior Supt. Moises Pagaduan, provincial director of the Camarines Norte Police Provincial Office (CNPPO), on the other hand, said the police is strictly implementing the gun ban and Commission on Elections (Comelec) checkpoint in the province.

He said they also plan to conduct anti-gambling operations regarding the virtual game if it is legal or jueteng as previously ordered by the PNP Regional Director Police Chief Supt. Clarence Guinto.

http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=871359689571