NPAs bar campaigners of North Cotabato congressional bet

From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 23): NPAs bar campaigners of North Cotabato congressional bet

Suspected New People's Army on Monday flagged down a team of campaigners of a congressional candidate in North Cotabato and prevented them from entering a remote village, police said.

Senior Inspector Rudy Cordero, chief of police of Tulunan, North Cotabato, said about 10 heavily armed men who covered their faces with t-shirts, flagged down a multi-cab carrying campaign posters of candidate Dr. Rod Escudero who is running for the newly created 3rd district of North Cotabato.

The armed men put up a road block in a dirt road in Barangay Bituan, Tulunan, North Cotabato and took Escudero's campaign materials and public address system but did not harm his campaigners, said Cordero.

Barangay Bituan is among the areas closely watched by police due to the presence of New People's Army rebels.

Escudero said he was surprised with the incident since campaginers of other candidates were allowed entry in the village.

"My men were barred from campaign there while campaigners of my opponents were allowed entry," Escudero said even as he appealed to police to ensure the safety of all those actively involved in any political campaign.

Escudero said he was not paying any campaign fee that the rebels have been spreading around.

In other areas in North Cotabato, the NPA has been asking "campaign to win" fee from candidates who wish to visit in their influenced areas.

The military had earlier confirmed the rebels are asking fee for candidates who wish to campaign in their areas.

For those who would not pay, they were not allowed entry and their campaign materials will be removed.

Earlier, officials of the Army's 6th Infantry Division and the PNP in Central Mindanao region have separately appealed to all candidates not to give in to NPA demands.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=518837