Don’t give in to NPA extortion, bets told

From Panay News (Feb 25, 2022): Don’t give in to NPA extortion, bets told

Election candidates running for various posts in Western Visayas were warned not to enter into an alliance, provide economic or financial support or use the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army as their private army.

The warning was made in face-to-face and virtual dialogues with the National Anti-Money Laundering / Combatting Financing Terrorism Coordinating Committee, and during covenant signings for peaceful elections organized by the Western Visayas Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF6-ELCAC).

“We campaign to stop extortion activities during election. We are encouraging incumbent officials seeking re-election and political aspirants to sign covenants not to provide material and financial support to the NPA, particularly in their permit to campaign and permit to win extortion activities,” said RTF6 ELCAC spokesperson, Assistant Provincial Prosecutor Flosemer Chris Gonzales.

“Basically we received good feedback from aspirants and local government units. We expect that in this election we can eliminate the participation of the CPP-NPA,” Gonzales said.

The task force will be holding a forum in Negros Occidental, Bacolod City, and Capiz on March 1, 2 and 3, respectively.

Anyone extending support to the communists will be held liable for violating the Anti-Terrorism Financing Act of 2012 and the Anti-Terror Act of 2020, said Gonzales.

These are serious offenses and are non-bailable because they carry a penalty of life imprisonment, he added.

https://www.panaynews.net/dont-give-in-to-npa-extortion-bets-told/