• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) ordered its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA), to enforce a set of policies for politicians entering what it claims the “revolutionary areas”.
In a statement, the CPP said “candidates and their supporters will be allowed to conduct their election campaigns in accordance with established guidelines”.
Among others, politicians are prohibited from bringing armed goons and police and military escorts that the CPP claims, usually serve to intimidate the people.
It also said that the NPA has standing orders to seize the weapons of candidates and their armed goons.
The Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division, however, said the NPA in Western Visayas is incapable of influencing the outcome of the May 12 midterm elections.
Maj. Gen. Marion Sison, 3ID commander, said the neutralization of top NPA leaders and the group’s defeat in a series of armed encounters made the rebels powerless to influence voters in the region.
In Negros Island, the NPA also no longer poses a threat to the conduct of elections, the Philippine Army said.
Brig. Gen. Joey Escanillas, commander of 302nd Infantry Brigade, said all the rebel fronts of the NPA in Negros Island have been dismantled.
“We see no serious threat from the communist-terrorist groups,” he added.
Although certain areas in Negros Oriental were previously classified under code orange due to the presence of communist rebels, Escanillas said they were associated with the past elections when the guerrilla fronts were yet to be dismantled.
He added that they have not detected extortion activities targeting candidates in the region for the upcoming elections.
Meanwhile, the CPP also ordered the NPA to target military and police units as well as armed goons of reactionary politicians, who will use the election campaign in the guerrilla zones as cover for conducting surveillance operations.
It added that before conducting their campaign in the revolutionary areas, politicians are required to inform and coordinate with local NPA units.
This coordination is crucial to avoid any incidents, including confrontations between armed goons of rival politicians, the CPP added. | GB with PNA reports
