Army warns public on effects of NPA extortion

From the Philippine Information Agency (Oct 16): Army warns public on effects of NPA extortion

CAMP EVANGELISTA, Cagayan de Oro City -- The 4th Infantry (Diamond) Division, Philippine Army warns the public on effects of New People’s Army’s Permit To Campaign (PTC) and Permit To Win (PTW) with the upcoming 2016 elections.

It reiterates PTC and PTW are illegal and are not sanctioned by the government.

It is also a violation of section 10 Paragraph C of Article IX of the 1987 Philippine Constitution that states that “Bona fide candidates for any public office shall be free from any form of harassment and discrimination.

This likewise breeds the idea of corruption.

Since aspiring politicians are being forced to pay these amounts to the NPAs, they may think of getting back the same amount from their public funds that would be entrusted in their office if they won in the election.

Similarly, this kills the hopes and dreams of millions of Filipinos for this undermines the capability of some aspiring political leaders, especially the poor, who also want to hold a public office but cannot afford to pay the demand of the NPAs.

Thus, PTC and PTW violates our right to suffrage and makes our electoral process a laughing stock because it is the exact opposite of having a democratic government that is a government by the people, of the people and for the people.

For the NPAs, more politicians duped more money to collect, more opportunities to sow threat. Graft and corruption would be rampant. (4ID)

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1461444982665/army-warns-public-on-effects-of-npa-extortion