A MILITARY official over the weekend urged candidates for the May elections not to give in to the demands of the New Peoples Army (NPA) should they asked for either material or monetary support in exchange for permit to campaign in rebel-infested communities.
Lieutenant Colonel Roy Anthony Derilo, commander of the 58th Infantry Battalion (58IB), said politicians or candidates supporting the NPA by any means would only boost the morale of the communist guerrillas.
Derilo said NPA fighters will be forced to abandon the armed struggle and surrender once they suffer the unrelenting hunger in the mountains.
"I discourage them nga mohatag og suporta sa pagkaon sa mga NPA kay sa pagtabang nila maka-boost kana sa morale sa mga NPA ug makapadugay sa uban nga gusto nang mo-surrender," Derilo said.
Derilo said former rebels who are now facing a new life have revealed that the primary challenge of the NPA combatants is hunger.
"According to former rebels kaya nila daganan ang mga sundalo pero ang challenge gyud nila is gutom. Kung wala daw mohatag sa ila mapugos daw sila og surrender,"he added.
Derilo said they have yet to receive reports that the NPA has started the election-related extortion activities from politicians bidding for any position in government this May polls.
But, Derilo has reiterated his call to all political parties to as much as possible avoid giving food support to the NPA so rebels will be forced to lay down their arms and be given another chance in life.
Derilo made his statement during the unity walk and peace covenant signing for electoral candidates in the province at the police provincial headquarters in Villanueva, Misamis Oriental last Sunday, January 13.