AFP urges public to help stop NPA from collecting poll fees from bets

From InterAksyon (Mar 20): AFP urges public to help stop NPA from collecting poll fees from bets

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Wednesday called on the public to help stop communist rebels from collecting poll fees from candidates, calling the practice a "culture of corruption."

“Let us all work together to put a stop to the NPA (New People's Army)’s armed violence and culture of corruption, which only spells more problems and harm to our peace-loving citizens. The more the candidates and our voters are made aware of this extortion scheme the more we can guard ourselves against it,” military spokesman Col. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr. said.

On Tuesday, Senator Franklin Drilon assailed the Communist Party-NPA-National Democratic Front for allegedly perpetuating criminal acts through the imposition of poll fees such as permit to campaign (PTC).

Drilon said some candidates under the Liberal Party were being threatened by communist rebels because of their refusal to pay the fees.

“The AFP assures Sen. Drilon that it will continue to undertake serious actions to put a stop to all of NPA’s extortion schemes and terrorist activities," Burgos said on Wednesday.

"We likewise encourage our election candidates, owners of businesses, economic establishments, as well as ordinary citizens to speak out and immediately report to the proper authorities if they encounter similar incidents of extortion,” he said.

“The AFP appeals to all of them that giving in to the NPA’s demands will only bolster their means to further conduct terroristic activities which will hinder us from having a free, safe, and honest election. For its part, the AFP will continue to perform its duties and responsibilities together with the Philippine National Police as deputized by the Commission on Election to ensure a secure and fare elections,” he added.

Earlier, Burgos claimed that the rebels imposed a P5-million PTC fee on every gubernatorial candidate who wanted to campaign in NPA-controlled areas.

According to AFP Civil Relations Services chief Brig. Gen Rolando Jungco, the military has documents containing information on the alleged poll fees being asked by communist rebels from poll bets.

“NPA members of belonging to the Samar Provincial Party Committee unde the Easter Visayas Regional Party Committee have been reportedly soliciting permit-to-campaign fees from local candidates since February 22, 2013. The corresponding fees are as follows: mayor, P750,000; voce mayor, P500,000; and councilor, P5,000. Accordingly, the SPPC assigned PTC collectors with instructions that payments can be paid completely or in installment basis,” stated one of the documents.

The NPA collects lower PTC fees in Southern Mindanao, according to military documents.
“In line with the forthcoming 2013 elections, the Southern Mindanao Regional Committee’s (SMRC) GF-51 reportedly impose the following permit-to-campaign fees on politicians running for local seats in Davao del Sur: mayor, P100,000-P150,000; vice mayor, P50,000-P100,000; and councilor, P10,000-P20,000,” a second document stated.

The documents also noted that the NPA collects PTC fees from designated areas while the “white area committee personalities will serve as conduits and facilitators”. The so-called white area in the revolutionary lingo refers to legal fronts of the CPP-NPA-NDF such as personalities from left-leaning organizations.

Earlier, Philippine National Police Director General Alan Purisima warned that charges would be filed in court against electoral candidates if it would be proven that they paid rebels PTC fees.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/57565/afp-urges-public-to-help-stop-npa-from-collecting-poll-fees-from-bets