POLITICIANS who will be proven to have paid the New People's Army for permit to campaign (PTC) during the recently concluded elections are answerable to the law, a military official warned Thursday.
Colonel Jon Aying, Commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army, said that all over the country, the NPA rebels were able to raise about P25 million from politicians for permit to campaign in what was claimed by the rebels as their controlled areas.
"They are liable for supporting the rebel movement. Either they paid because of fear or in whatever way they did it," Aying pointed out.
Aying however did not divulge how much of the total amount raised by the rebels came from Negros Occidental.
He only revealed that huge amount of money came from the province in the extortion activities of the rebels.
Aying further said that the military has the approach of knowing such information from the rebels. He revealed that the confirmation about the extortion activities by the rebels also came from some of the rebels because of the division and disunity within the rebel movement.
The extortion activities were denied by the NPA through a statement given to the media prior to the May 13 elections. (TDE)