Friday, October 18, 2013

ARMY official says some 140 barangays under areas of concern in Davao, Cotabato provinces

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 18): ARMY official says some 140 barangays under areas of concern in Davao, Cotabato provinces

An official of the Philippine Army here said that 100 barangays are placed under areas of concern in Davao Region while 40 barangays are placed under the same classification in South and North Cotabato.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Major General Ariel Bernardo, commander of the 10th Infantry Division said the rebels exact taxation on local candidates even for the forthcoming barangay elections through the so-called PTC or permit to campaign.

He lamented the reports that communist rebels imposed PTC even on the electoral exercise involving the candidates of the basic unit structure of governance.

“It is sad that the rebels compel the compliance of PTC even on leaders whom everybody in the community knows,” Bernardo said.

The Army commander in Davao Region made a tour of his area of responsibility as far as some parts of South and North Cotabato.

Bernardo said the areas of concern include the whole province of Compostela Valley, portions of Davao del Norte all the way to Paquibato District, Davao City, Davao City-Arakan Valley, North Cotabato boundary, Malita, Davao del Sur-Alabel, Sarangani boundary, Kiblawan, Davao del Sur and Colombio, Sultan Kudarat boundary, and the Tulunan, North Cotabato-Davao del Sur boundary.

He said the barangay elections offer the opportunity for people to select pro-democracy leaders.

“Residents have to realize the importance of choosing leaders who not command respect but also listen to the will of the people. They must be guided in putting to office pro-democracy leaders,” Bernardo said. A top military commander confirmed that the communist rebels are imposing permit to campaign in some barangays in North Cotabato.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=577718

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