THE 10th Infantry Division (ID) commander on Wednesday urged all local candidates who are seeking posts in the May Elections not to give in to the extortion demands of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).
Major Gen. Rafael Valencia, commander of the 10th ID, said those politicians who are patronizing the New People's Army (NPA) rebels by paying extortion fees are helping them kill soldiers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
"Kung sino man ang politicians na nagbabayad ng pera sa mga rebelde ay parang tinutulungan niyo na din silang patayin ang ating mga sundalo," Valencia told reporters during the AFP-PNP press conference held at The Ritz Hotel at Garden Oases last Wednesday morning.
The New People's Army (NPA) demands fees for permits to campaign (PTCs) and permits to post (PTP) for candidates to be able to visit the areas dominated by CPP-NPA during their 47th anniversary of the CPP last December 26.
Valencia said that they have intercepted documents on previous politicians who had paid campaign fees during the past elections.
They also have a document outlining how much the rates are.
"Kung magbigay sila dapat lang hindi namin malaman," Valencia said.
The 10th ID has been monitoring those politicians who have paid the NPA rebels just to let them campaign in the far-flungs areas of the region.
"Do not pay them," Valencia stressed.
Marlon Casquejo, assistant regional director of the Commission on Election (Comelec), said that if there is a complainant then they can conduct an investigation. "Actually it is considered as an election offense.
As long as may evidence then it can be grounds for disqualification," Casquejo said who was also one of the panelists in the media forum.