• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Philippine Army has reiterated its warning to candidates against paying “permit to win fees” to the New People’s Army (NPA) as the campaign period for the synchronized barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections ends Saturday (Oct.28).
Brig. Gen. Orlando Edralin, commander of 303rd Infantry Brigade, said that candidates proven to be paying “permit to campaign fees” will be held accountable, not only for violation of Commission on Elections rules and regulations, but also under the Anti-Terrorism law.
Edralin said they are expecting such illegal activities, like what the NPA did in the past elections, to generate income.
They have not received complaints of NPA extortion activities from candidates as of this time though, he added.
Since they are losing their mass base support, the only way for the NPA to generate income is to engage in extortion activities, the Army official said.
Section 4 of Republic Act (RA) 10168 otherwise known as “The Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012,” states that: “Any person who, directly or indirectly, willfully and without lawful excuse, possesses, provides, collects or uses property or funds or makes available property, funds or financial service or other related services, by any means, with the unlawful and willful intention that they should be used or with the knowledge that they are to be used, in full or in part:
(a) to carry out or facilitate the commission of any terrorist act;
(b) by a terrorist organization, association or group;
or (c) by an individual terrorist, shall be guilty of the crime of financing of terrorism.”
Those found guilty of committing the said provision of RA 10168 shall suffer the penalty of reclusion temporal in its maximum period to reclusion perpetua and a fine of not less than P500,000 nor more than P1 million. | GB
