Poll bets told: Paying NPA campaign fees punishable

MANILA -- The Philippine National Police (PNP) has joined the outcry for candidates in the May 2013 elections not to give in to the New People's Army's (NPA) campaign fee extortion scheme, which is punishable by law since it is tantamount to rebellion.

Director General Alan Purisima, PNP chief, said the act of giving any amount or item of value to the NPA rebels "is tantamount to disloyalty punishable under the Revised Penal Code."

And if the "fee" is made as part of a conspiracy to overthrow the government, the "donor" may be held liable as co-conspirator in the crime of rebellion.

"Incumbent government officials campaigning for re-election remain to be government officials, thus, their culpability in this extortion scheme of the NPA thru so-called 'campaign fees' will be further aggravated by a violation of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Government Officials," added Purisima.

The PNP chief has ordered police units nationwide to initiate actions against the communist rebels asking huge amount of money in exchange for permits to campaign and permits to win (PTC/PTW) in NPA strongholds.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) earlier reported that NPA members have begun their extortion activities, particularly in Northern Luzon and Eastern Visayas, by imposing on candidates the PTC/PTW.

"Documents recently recovered by the 8th Infantry Division in Eastern Visayas reveal that the NPA is still actively pursuing its PTC/PTW scheme to all local candidates," the AFP said.

The military said the documents recovered show a breakdown for what the NPA calls their "Electoral Alliance Fee" to all candidates seeking their support: candidates for governor - P5 million, vice governor or congressman - P500,000, provincial board member or mayor - P100,000
vice mayor - P75,000, and councilor - 50,000.

"It is usually during the election season that the NPA exploits the political ambition of certain candidates by vigorously imposing this scheme," the military said.

The military added that in 2012, the NPA has collected a total of P25 million through their extortion activities.

"The more the candidates and our voters are made aware of this extortion scheme the more we can guard ourselves against it," said Lieutenant General Emmanuel Bautista, AFP chief of staff. (Emmanuel Louis Bacani/Sunnex)