Army warns politicians vs NPA extortion activities

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 14): Army warns politicians vs NPA extortion activities 

GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is warning politicians here and the neighboring areas against possible extortion demands from New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in the run-up to the campaign period for the May 2016 local and national elections.

Col. Ronald Villanueva, commander of the Army’s 1002nd Brigade, said they received reports that NPA units in the area have already been preparing to send feelers to local politicians or candidates for the payment of the so-called permits-to-campaign (PTC) fees.

He said they earlier recovered documents allegedly coming from the rebels that detailed their plans in the area for the campaign period, which will begin on January 10 next year.

“It included a list of their targeted politicians and the amount that they will demand,” he said in a radio interview.

Villanueva said they already talked to some of the personalities who were named in the list and warn them about the matter.

He said they advised them to not give in to the rebels’ demands and immediately report to authorities any feelers or payment demands that they will receive.

The 1002nd Brigade’s area of responsibility or operation covers this city and parts of Sarangani, Sultan Kudarat, Davao Occidental, Davao del Sur and South Cotabao.

In the previous elections, military officials had confirmed that some local candidates received demands from the NPA for the payment of PTC fees in exchange for access to campaign in some remote areas parts during the campaign period.

In Sarangani, a number of politicians had received feelers for PTC fees, which reportedly ranged from P20,000 to P200,000 for candidates vying for municipal, district and provincial elective posts.

To counter these activities, Villanueva said they have intensified their security operations in remote communities to properly monitor the movements of NPA rebels, specifically the guerrilla fronts of its Far South Mindanao Regional Command.

He said the move is also aimed to stop the extortion activities of the rebels among local residents.

The rebels have been allegedly preying on poor residents by way of forced monetary and material contributions, he said.

“They have been victimizing ordinary, poor folks by demanding rice and food supplies. Some of them were forced to give monetary contributions ranging from P500 to P2,000,” he added.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=815015