NPA: We detained Palawan mayoral bet for lack of campaign access permit

From InterAksyon (Apr 30): NPA: We detained Palawan mayoral bet for lack of campaign access permit

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Philippines – Members of the New People’s Army have admitted accosting Sunday the convoy of mayoral candidate Rodolfo Cayaon of Roxas town in Northern Palawan, and confiscating campaign materials for not obtaining a campaign access permit.

In a press statement, a certain Ka Arnel, spokesperson of the Bienvenido Valleber Command of the Palawan NPA, said they had to reprimand Cayaon for “violating the rules of the movement.”

The rebels also seized sacks of medicines to be distributed by Cayaon and held him for two hours.

The “operation” was witnessed by almost a hundred residents of Bgy. Bagong Bayan. “Isa lamang itong patunay na seryoso ang NPA sa pagpapatupad ng mga patakarang itinakda ng [This is just a manifestatiuon of the NPA’s seriousness in enforcing the rules set by the] NPA Command,” the statement added.

The incident comes on the heels of a word war between Palace officials and communist rebels on the government’s directive to all candidates to ignore demands of NPAs for permit-to-campaign fees.

The Palawan Provincial Police Office has since deployed additional forces in the area and is coordinating with the AFP Western Command for assistance.

PNP Palawan Spokesperson Manel Lamban-Marzo appealed to local candidates to coordinate with their local police stations to avoid a recurrence of the Cayaon case.
"That’s why we keep appealing to candidates to work with us, especially when they campaign in remote areas. We need to ensure their security as well as those of the people who wish to listen to their campaign,” Lamban- Marzo said.

She said the PNP, Wescom and the Comelec in the province are still validating the areas of concern in the province.

According to the AFP Western Command, they are validating 16 cases of harassment from the rebel group in line with their campaign access permit drive.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/60674/npa-we-detained-palawan-mayoral-bet-for-lack-of-campaign-access-permit