Reject NPA campaign policy: Army

From the Visayan Daily Star (Feb 13): Reject NPA campaign policy: Army

The Philippine Army in Negros Occidental yesterday appealed for a sense of responsibility among candidates in the May 13 elections, and enjoined them to reject the so-called “permit to campaign” policy of the New People’s Army.

Contributing funds to the NPA, will make them stronger, at the expense of the people, Col. Oscar Lactao, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, said.

In previous elections, the military had confiscated numerous copies of Permits to Campaign from arrested NPA members, especially in southern Negros, military records show. Under the policy, candidates may only campaign in the so-called NPA controlled barangays if they have the permit.

The campaign period for candidates aspiring for national elective positions started yesterday, while that for local candidates will start on March 29.

While they have not monitored any distribution of PTCs to candidates in Negros Occidental, so far, Lactao said the recent ambush of civilians and policemen in Brgy. Puso, La Castellana, responsibility for which was claimed by the NPA, may also have been aimed at projecting to candidates that they are still a force to reckon with.

In staging an ambush, the NPA killed eight civilians and a policeman, while 12 were injured, Lactao said.

He also said the slain members of the Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team and barangay tanods, are not paramilitary men.

BPAT and barangay tanods are organized to maintain peace and order during fiestas and mediate petty quarrels and simple incidents of theft in the barangay, Lactao said.

The justification of the massacre, by the NPA, Lactao said it shows “they have no remorse whatsoever over the incident.”

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2013/February/13/topstory5.htm