COLONEL Benedict Arevalo, commanding officer of the 303rd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army based in Barangay Minoyan, Murcia said on Sunday, March 3, he is not keen on releasing the names of the local officials who are backing or asking support from the New People's Army (NPA).
“Even if I was challenged by the governor and the vice governor to name names. I did not release and I am not coming out with the names,” Arevalo said.
“People can just leak it. That would be libelous but I will not release the names officially because it has legal implications,” Arevalo added.
After Governor Alfredo Maranon and Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson dared Arevalo to name names, some names including that of two incumbent mayors, a vice mayor, a former mayor, a Catholic priest, and some councilors and former councilors came out.
Arevalo said it would be unfair to those whose names were dropped to be on the list and other officials who are obviously into the activity of backing the NPAs but their names are not included on the list.
The military official said that there are local officials supporting and asking support from the NPAs to remind them that the army already identified them through intelligence report.
“My objective is to let them know that we know them that they are supporting or asking for the support of the NPAs for their campaign or election. Intelligence report is different from concrete evidence. Not all intelligence reports are backed up with strong evidence,” Arevalo said.
He added that the alleged list coming out may intend to put pressure against those who are involved once they issue a statement of denial.
Meanwhile, Arevalo said that based on recent Provincial Joint Security Control Center meeting, only the Commission on Elections regional director or authorized representative could reveal the Election Watchlist Areas (EWAS) in the province.
He said that the task of identifying the areas is with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and that they are only backing the agency.
Earlier, he said the PNP identified the EWAS in Negros which includes Moises Padilla, Isabela, E.B. Magalona, Don Salvador Benedicto, and Toboso because of intense political rivalry.