Reds all set to collect ‘fees’ in village polls–military

Philippine Daily Inquirer First Posted 09:01:00 09/16/2010

Communist rebels are expected to try to cash in on the upcoming October 25 barangay (village) elections by extorting money from candidates through their illegal “permit to campaign” (PTC) scam.

MANILA, Philippines—Communist rebels are expected to try to cash in on the upcoming October 25 barangay (village) elections by extorting money from candidates through their illegal “permit to campaign” (PTC) scam.

Candidates should beware of attempts by the communist New People's Army (NPA), the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, to get them to pay so-called PTC fees in exchange for campaign access to far-flung areas, said a military spokesperson.

Many candidates in the provinces are forced to pay the money to avoid being harassed by NPA rebels during the campaign.

But while issuing the warning, Brigadier General Jose Mabanta Jr., chief of the Armed Forces Civil Relations Service, said the NPA has had limited success with its extortion racket.

“During the last presidential elections (on May 10) we are happy and pleased that the insurgents barely or were not successful in their income-generating activities,” Mabanta said.

He said this was because the strength of the CPP-NPA has gone down drastically so that its ability to generate funds has been greatly diminished.

Mabanta said Armed Forces operational units will be meeting today to finalize plans for securing the elections.
The Commission on Elections traditionally deputizes the military and the police during elections to secure the polling precincts.

The gun ban starts on September 25 although the campaign period does not start until October 14.
Dona Pazzibugan