Bets urged not to give in to rebels’ extortion demands

THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) are urging candidates in the May 10 elections not to give in to extortion demands by communist rebels.

This, as the Regional Command and the 4th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army are now monitoring the habitual extortion activities of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) during election period.

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Chief Superintendent Danilo Empedrad, Police Regional Office (PRO) 10 regional director, said politicians are among those paying revolutionary taxes to the CPP-NPA especially during the campaign period as permit-to-campaign-fee.

“So far, we have not received any complaints from politicians but the AFP is also monitoring the area that is under the jurisdiction of the 4ID brigade,” Empedrad said.

According to AFP’s intelligence report, the NPA is demanding campaign fees ranging from P20,000 to P500,000 or depending on the candidates’ capacity to pay.

Instead of paying, Empedrad said candidates should report this extortion activity to the military or police.

Earlier, the CPP has dismissed claims that the NPA is charging fees for permits to campaign, calling this as a “desperate psy-war” of the AFP designed to put down the revolutionary forces.