‘More than 30 officials supporting NPA’

From the Visayan Daily Star (Feb 19, 2019): ‘More than 30 officials supporting NPA’

More than 30 incumbent local government officials in Negros Occidental were reported yesterday by the Philippine Army to have been supporting the New People’s Army.

Col. Benedict Arevalo, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, said yesterday that local government officials are giving financial and logistical support to the NPA, who, in return, avail of their services, as private armed goons, during and even before elections.
Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. said local officials should know that they should not support the NPA because they are against the government. Those who support the NPA are also against the government, he said.

The NPA supporters, whom Arevalo did not identify, include mayors, vice mayors, while majority of them are councilors.

Arevalo said exposing those who are supporting the NPA, is not meant to judge them. “We would like to remind them not to support the CPP-NPA,” he added, stressing that the rebel group has already been categorized by the European Union (EU), as a terrorist organization.

“If our reports (against them) are strong enough, we will forward them to the Department of Interior and Local Government for investigation”, he added.

Arevalo also reminded local government officials of a memorandum circular that prohibits local government officials from supporting the NPA. Although the intelligence reports are already verified, he admitted that they will not hold water legally.

“Since there are technicalities and legalities involved, we are also very careful not to implicate unnecessarily those politicians,” Arevalo further said.

DILG Secretary Eduardo Año had earlier issued a warning to all governors, mayors and candidates about directly or indirectly giving material and political support to the communist rebels.

Section 4 of the Republic Act (RA) No. 10168 otherwise known as "The Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012,” states that those found guilty shall suffer the penalty of reclusion temporal in its maximum period, to reclusion perpetua and a fine of not less than P500,000 nor more than P1-million.

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2019/February/19/topstory2.htm