AS THE election campaigns on both local and national heat up, the New People’s Army (NPA) has bared to electoral candidates the policies of the revolutionary movement on campaigning in its guerrilla zones.
Allan Juanito, spokesperson of NPA North Central Mindanao region, said that political bets and parties should coordinate with the respective NPA commands for campaign sorties.
The policies laid down by the rebel group include prohibition of bringing guns and armed escorts during campaign and involving on dirty and traditional political activities such as vote buying and electoral fraud.
Also, Juanito said that candidates should not use the campaign as front to spy over the activities of the NPA and the other revolutionary groups and lastly the candidates are reminded to avoid coercion or pressure the voters who to vote.
Juanito is also reminding the candidates to address the need of the masses including hunger problems due to the prolonged dry spell brought about by the El Niño instead of employing dirty tricks and mudslinging during the campaigns.
The NPA is also warning the candidates to avoid using the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) of the government or take advantage of it to earn the votes of the masses.
Permit to campaign fees
Meanwhile, the 4th Infantry Division (4ID) of the Philippine Army reiterates that the policies of the NPA only boil down to extortion through its permit to campaign (PTC) fees from the candidates.
Captain Joe Patrick Martinez, 4ID spokesperson, said they are discouraging the candidates to participate and engage with the demands of the NPA.
Martinez said that the fees the revolutionary movement collect range from P200,000 to P500,000 depending on the elective post the candidate is seeking for.
Martinez said that candidates for congress and governor are usually asked to pay between P300,000 to P650,000.
"The permit to campaign fee breeds the idea of corruption since aspiring politicians are forced to pay these amounts to the NPA. With this, they (candidates) may think of getting back the same amount from the public funds entrusted in their offices once they win in the election," Martinez said.
"For the NPAs, more politicians duped the more money to collect, the more opportunities to sow threats. Graft and corruption would be rampant," Martinez added.
For his part, Misamis Oriental Governor Yevgeny Emano, who is seeking reelection, said that he and his party will not pay to the NPA.
Emano, in an earlier interview, said he is confident that the entire Padayon Pilipino party is safe and allowed to campaign unharmed in the NPA territories even without PTC fees.
"Wala man mi sala and dili man dautan among tuyo diha sa mga suok nga mga lugar. Dili kami mohatag kay wala man kami ikahatag," Emano said.
Over the weekend, NPA units in Northern Mindanao and Caraga regions conducted simultaneous roadblocks spreading the message on the revolutionary policies in electoral campaigns, which yielded to the capture of three police officers and two soldiers.
Martinez said the state forces are still pursuing the rebel groups.
"I believe nasabihan na rin yung mga pamilya sa mga nadagit nga mga police and sundalo while patuloy pa rin ang ating hot pursuit," Martinez said.