Don’t pay NPA

From the Mindanao Times (Apr 25): Don’t pay NPA

DILG warns against ‘permit to campaign’ fees in rebel-infested areas.

THE DEPARTMENT of Interior and Local Government (DILG) in Davao region yesterday warned barangay and youth candidates from giving funds to the communist rebels to gain permits to campaign in areas controlled by the Reds.This as the police regional command is monitoring hotspots areas in the region, particularly those under NPA control, following the murder of a re-electionist barangay captain in Monkayo, Compostela Valley.

DILG Regional Director Alex Roldan said barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan bets would be charged for rebellion if they gave funds to the communist.

“It is illegal,” Roldan said on the act of candidates who give funds to the communist rebels. “We discourage that.”

Since the authorities are not privy to any deal entered by the candidates with the rebels, Roldan admitted it is really a “problem during election.”

Candidates, particularly in rebel-infested territories, are forced to pay the New People’s Army (NPA) for security reasons.

Roldan said he is coordinating with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to monitor candidates if they gave funds to the rebels in exchange for the permit to campaign.

“If there’s evidence that the candidates gave fee to the NPAs, then they could be charged for rebellion,” he added.

Assessing

The Davao Police Regional Office XI is in the process of consolidating the election watch list areas and areas of concern

Chief Insp. MIlgrace Driz, spokesperson of PRO XI, said the provincial security join coordinating committee, led by the Commission on Elections, convened yesterday to identify the election watch list areas.

“We are focusing on these areas because the Comelec will make measures,” Driz said.

The Comelec action may include the deployment of police and military personnel in far-flung areas and areas that are identified to have the presence of communist group and private armed group and those with history of previous election-related violence.

http://mindanaotimes.net/dont-pay-npa/