Editorial: Stopping the permit-to-campaign, how?

From the Mindanao Times (Jan 7): EDITORIAL| Stopping the permit-to-campaign, how?

GIVING in to the demand of the New People’s Army for a permit to campaign in the hinterlands where they hold political sway is giving rebels the power to bring down the government. This is the gist of the message of Maj. Gen. Rafael Valencia, commander of the Army’s 10th Infantry Division, during a press conference yesterday.

 

In a previous forum, Valencia said that documents recovered by the military show the collection scheme of the NPAs permit-to-campaign to local politicians in the Davao region. This could easily amass the rebels millions of pesos to fund their movement, the military believes.

 

To back this warning, the Commission on Election warned the candidates that this can be a cause for disqualification under the Elections Code. Atty. Marlon Casquejo, Deputy Regional Director for Comelec XI, said this can fall under giving of donations and cash gifts to bolster their chances of winning in the area.

 

Sec. 104 of the Omnibus Election Code states that: “No candidate, his or her spouse or any relative within the second civil degree of consanguinity or affinity, or his campaign manager, agent or representative shall during the campaign period, on the day before and on the day of the election, directly or indirectly, make any donation, contribution or gift in cash or in kind…”

The website www.lente on election offenses, said the term “contribution” includes gift, donation, subscription, loan, advance or deposit of money or anything of value, or a contract, promise or agreement to contribute, whether or not legally enforceable, made for the purpose of influencing the results of elections. This also includes the use of facilities voluntarily donated by other persons, the money value of which can be assessed based on the rates prevailing in the area.

Casquejo also said those who were found to be paying the permit to campaign could face imprisonment.  Permit to campaign fees has been around for the past elections. It will requires swift action on those who are caught violating the code for candidates to refrain from paying the rebels.

 

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