SENATORIAL candidate Risa Hontiveros asked the Department of Justice on Tuesday to probe the existence of roadblocks in areas controlled by communist rebels.
In her letter complaint, Hontiveros said the New People's Army's (NPA) extortion activities and use of violence violate Section 261 of the Omnibus Election Code.
"We are committed to ensuring that the rule of law is upheld. It is clear that only the Comelec (Commission on Elections) has the power to set up checkpoints to enforce its gun ban pursuant to Comelec Resolution 9588 – a power that must be judiciously exercised...and we respectfully submit that any attempt of any non-state group to arrogate this power unto itself is ironic, illegal and should not be tolerated," said Hontiveros, chairperson of party-list group Akbayan.
She said that the attack against Gingoog City Mayor Ruthie Guingona last April 21 and the rebels' collection of permit to campaign fees from candidates manifest a pattern of abuse and gangsterism that threatens the chance to effect social change through democratic, peaceful and clean elections.
"Indeed, it is this widespread sense of impunity by non-state actors that gave rise to the shooting of Mayor Guingona a week ago, and the Ampatuan massacre some years back," the letter read.
Hontiveros is running under the administration slate Team PNoy for the May 13 elections. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)