Palace to candidates: Report NPA extortion activities

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 16): Palace to candidates: Report NPA extortion activities

Malacanang appealed to candidates running for this year’s midterm election not to give in to the demands of the New People’s Army (NPA) asking huge amount of money for the candidates to enter rebel strongholds to campaign.

The Armed Forces (AFP) reported the NPA is charging candidates as high as P 5 million per candidate for permit to campaign as well as permit to win. In a radio interview over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan Saturday,

Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said NPA’s extortion activities must be stopped, asking candidates to report to authorities if they are approached by the rebels.

“That is not something that is required, that is not something that is tolerated, at umaapela tayo doon sa mga kumakandidato na let’s not give in to these demands, especially, sinasabi nilang pang-campaign permit daw ito and to report to the proper authorities kapag merong ganitong panghihingi sa inyo,” Valte said.

Valte made the appeal not only to administration candidates, but also to all candidates who are running to shun the practice.

The military said the NPA’s campaign fees ranged from P 50,000 to P 5 million, or P 5 million from the candidates for governor, P 500,000 from the candidates for vice governor or congressman, P 100,000 from the candidates for provincial board member or mayor, P 75,000 from the candidates for vice mayor, and P 50,000 from the candidates for councilor. The rebels ask money from candidates to ensure their victory in areas controlled by the rebels.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=&sid=&nid=&rid=498240