• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Philippine Army is discouraging candidates in the May 12 elections from paying “permit to campaign” or “permit to win” fees to the New People’s Army (NPA) as the campaign period kicks off Feb. 11.
Brig. Gen. Michael Samson, acting commander of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division, noted that while they have not monitored any such activity from the NPA, any incident should be reported immediately to authorities.
Samson also raised the possibility that individuals or groups, aside from the NPA, might take advantage of the election period.
Earlier, the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) ordered its armed wing, the New People’s Army, to enforce a set of policies for politicians entering the “revolutionary areas.”
In a statement, the CPP said that candidates and their supporters will be allowed to conduct their election campaigns in accordance with established guidelines.
The CPP has prohibited politicians from bringing armed groups or police and military escorts, which it claimed usually serve to intimidate the people.
The NPA also has standing orders to seize the weapons of candidates and their armed groups.
However, Samson mentioned that NPA remnants in Negros and Panay might not be able to impose these “guidelines” as they are constantly on the run and avoiding the ongoing focused military operations.
He emphasized that government troops have not stopped their military operations against rebel remnants. | GB
