Military officials have cautioned local residents against voting for candidates supported by the communist-led New People’s Army (NPA) in Monday’s barangay elections.
Capt. William Rodriguez, spokesperson of the Army’s 1002nd Brigade, said on a local radio station they received reports that a number of candidates had been approached by NPA units in connection with the coming polls.
He said the rebels specifically offered to allow some candidates to campaign in areas by paying “permit-to-campaign” (PTC) fees.
Some candidates were even guaranteed of getting elected through the payment of “permit-to-win” (PTW) fees, he said.
“They (NPA) have long been extorting our local politicians and they dangle these sort of fees every election,” Rodriguez said.
The official said the rebels were actually duping candidates with the collection of the PTC and PTW fees as they’ve been offering such scheme to all candidates.
“These schemes are clearly meant to manipulate and deny the people of their right of suffrage,” he stressed.
Rodriguez urged residents to help the government and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Monday’s barangay elections by being more vigilant.
“Let’s vote for persons who can really help our communities and not those backed by the NPA, which only wants to bring down our government,” he said.
For the elections on Monday, Rodriguez assured that security preparations are already in place.
He said they were deputized by the Comelec to secure the conduct of the elections.
“We have been closely coordinating with our counterparts in the police and with the Comelec to ensure that we will have a safe, peaceful and orderly elections,” he added.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=579956
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