Army offers security to poll bets campaigning in NPA-infested areas

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 9): Army offers security to poll bets campaigning in NPA-infested areas

The Philippine Army here has asked candidates in the upcoming May 13, 2012 mid-term elections not to give in to the “permit to campaign” and “permit to win” fees imposed by the New People’s Army.

Lt. Col. Lyndon Paniza, spokesperson of the 10th Infantry Division, said they are willing to provide security to candidates who would be campaigning in areas considered strongholds of the communist rebels.

“If the reason of paying PTC or PTW is to be secured in the campaign sorties in NPA-infested areas then we are here to provide them security,” Paniza said.

He said Army battalions under the 10th ID were already tasked to monitor politicians paying these “extortion” fees to the rebels “but so far we have not yet monitored these candidates to have paid these fees to them.”

In Davao region, hinterlands of Davao City, Compostela Valley, Davao Oriental and Davao del Norte were known to have NPA sightings.

Paniza said they have already heard about the varying “tariff” fees being imposed by the rebels on candidates vying for the different positions.

He said that once the local campaign period starts last week of March, some candidates are likely to give in to the rebels\ demand to court voters in remote areas of the countryside.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=505337