Military belittle rebels’ warning vs. vote-buying

From the Leyte Samar Daily Express (Apr 15): Military belittle rebels’ warning vs. vote-buying

The declaration of the communist group based on the region assailing possible vote-buying by candidates relative to the conduct of the May 13, 2013 elections is nothing but phoney talks.
So said the acting spokesperson of the 8th Infantry Division based in Catbalogan City, Captain Amado Gutierrez.

According to Gutierrez, the declaration was only made to cover up the activities of the communist group demanding money from candidates, especially in areas still considered under their “influence.

“Probably, it’s part of their propaganda to offset the issue that they are demanding permit to campaign fee and permit to win fees from candidates as can be confirmed from recently recovered documents,” Gutierrez said in a phone interview.

Earlier, Santiago Salas, spokesperson of the National Democratic Front based here in the region, issued a warning for candidates not to resort to vote-buying and coercion.

He said that those caught resorting to vote buying and coercion would be dealt with accordingly and that any money taken from the candidates intended to buy votes would be confiscated from them.
Gutierrez added that they have been issuing appeals to the candidates not to resort to vote-buying or succumb to the demands of the rebel group for them on permit to campaign or win fees.

The military in the region has appealed to the candidates to report to them if they are being asked by the local communist group on their permit to campaign or win fees.

“This guidance was already downloaded to our unit commands in the front line,” Gutierrez said.
According to the military, candidates were being asked to pay P50, 000 up to P5 million by the rebel group, depending on the position being sought by the candidates.

Salas himself made a strong denial on this in a previous statement.

Gutierrez said that the military in the region support fair, clean and honest elections adding that they do not meddle relative to the conduct of the elections.

“We do not delve on endorsing any candidate as it is against the policy of the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” he said.

He also said that in coordination with the Commission on Elections and the Philippine National Police, they have established checkpoints and combat operations to deter any acts by any armed groups, particularly the New People’s Army, that could affect the peaceful outcome of the balloting on May 13, 2013.

http://leytesamardaily.net/2013/04/military-belittle-rebels-warning-vs-vote-buying/