Army won’t disclose how much NPA gained from ‘permit to campaign’ fees

From the Leyte Samar Daily Express (Jun 5): Army won’t disclose how much NPA gained from ‘permit to campaign’ fees

TACLOBAN CITY- An Army official said that they would not disclose the amount reportedly collected by the members of the New People’s Army out of their so-called permit to campaign or win fees.

Captain Amado Gutierrez, spokesperson of the 8th Infantry Division based in Catbalogan City, said that doing so would only embolden the rebel group to carry out their illegal act in suceeding elections.

“What we can say is that they were able to generate huge amount out of their permit to campaign or permit to win fees. But we cannot disclose publicly as to how much they collected as this will only embolden them to do this again in the next elections,” Gutierrez said.

“If we announce in public how much they have collected, this could be interpreted by them that we are encouraging them to do it again. In fact, we are discouraging our politicians or candidates in giving in to this demand of the communist rebel group,” he added.
  
Earlier, the Army has disclosed that the rebel group has collected P25 million out of the permit to campaign and win fees during the election period.

However, the amount mentioned by the military did not include those reportedly collected by the NPA in Eastern Visayas and Cordillera Region.

The amount was said to have been raised by the NPA out of their extortion activities in Metro Manila, Catanduanes, Camarines Sur and Negros Occidental.

The military has claimed that NPA resort to these schemes as part of their campaign to generate funds.

The range allegedly demanded by the rebel group depend on the position being sought by the candidates ranging from P50,000 if one is seeking for a council seat and as high as P5 million if one is running for governor.

By giving the fees, a candidate either can enter to areas still considered to be under the “influence” of the rebel group or can be assured of their support at the polls.

Gutierrez said that they have gathered reports that there were candidates who ran during the recently held May 13 elections who received demand letters from the rebel group and eventually acceded by giving in the amount asked at them.

Colonel Noel Vestuir, commanding officer of the 20th Infantry Battalion based in Lope de Vega town, Northern Samar, said that they have monitored some candidates who have give in to the demands of the rebels.

“They received (demand) letters from the NPA and some have actually gave in to this demand,” he said.

He, however, could not say as to how many candidates paid the fees and how much have been collected by the rebels operating in his area.

Vestuir’s jurisdiction covers the province of Northern Samar and part of Samar, to inlcude Calbayog City.

The military has called on the candidates not to give in to the demand of the rebel as they urged them instead to report to them the extortion activity of the rebel group.
      
The NPA here in the region has strongly denied this allegation that they collect permit to campaign or win fees.

http://leytesamardaily.net/2013/06/army-wont-disclose-how-much-npa-gained-from-permit-to-campaign-fees/