THE Task Force Davao (TFD) yesterday said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will do everything to stop the New People’s Army (NPA) from collecting permit to campaign (PTC) fees among candidates in the incoming 2004. Col. Gaudencio Pangilinan, TFD commander, said they will increase their presence and mobility in the city’s hinterlands to prevent the NPA from harassing and soliciting money from the politicians.
“The TFD will make its presence felt in the rural areas to prevent these extortion activities of the rebels,” Pangilinan said.
In the weekly forum of “Ato ni Bay” of Mayor Rodrigo Duterte at After-Dark Resto-bar, Pangilinan said candidates should coordinate with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) so that the TFD can provide them with security escorts during their campaign rounds.
“We are now starting to coordinate with the staffmembers of the candidates so that we can given them covert security escorts,” Pangilinan said.
Senior Supt. Conrado Laza, Davao City Police Office (DCPO) director, said the DCPO will also do its share in preventing the rebels from collecting money from the candidates.
“The police will also do their share to prevent these extortion being done by the rebels,” Laza said.
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NPA rebels in Mindanao back Poe, insist on campaign fees - By Lizanilla Amarga - December 30, 2003
LIANGA, Surigao del Sur--Communists and their supporters in Mindanao said they are inclined to support action star Fernando Poe Jr. for president in next year's elections.
This came about as they debunked reports they have required Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte to pay P300,000 for his permit to campaign (PTC), saying the amount is too small for the mayor.
In a press conference held here amid the 35th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP, National Democratic Front (NDF) Mindanao spokesman Jorge "Ka Oris" Madlos told media practitioners they prefer Poe than President Arroyo and other presidentiables.
"Kung karon ang election ang arang-arang si FPJ kaysa ni Gloria (if the elections are to be held today it is better to vote for Poe than Arroyo)," he said.
Madlos said FPJ hasn't committed a crime to the masses yet or to the movement unlike the President whom he said should have been "kicked out".
Nevertheless, Madlos said Poe, who is commonly called as "FPJ", and all presidential candidates and politicians will have to pay the required campaign fee should they want to campaign in their areas.
He said the campaign fee is an "expression of the governmental function of the revolutionary government" and is considered as another form of revolutionary tax.
"No one is exempted from paying the PTC even if they are against or in support of our revolutionary movement...they can pay in the form of firearms or in cash," he said.
He added that politicians not paying the required PTC would be barred from campaigning in their areas.
Madlos also denied requiring Duterte to pay the amount of P300,000 for his PTC. The amount "is too small for Duterte," he said in Visayan.
Madlos said should Duterte insist on not paying the PTC, it would be up to their group in Southern Mindanao to deal with the mayor.
"Ipatuman strictly ang PTC sa tibook Mindanao (The PTC will be strictly implemented in Mindanao)," he said.
When asked on how much was really asked from the Davao mayor, Madlos replied that he cannot as yet ascertain the exact amount.
He however, disclosed there is a "general ceiling" for PTCs that provides the amount required as payment for mayors who want to campaign in their areas.
Madlos said the PTC for a mayor ranges from P50,000 to P500,000 while for party slates, such as governors and their Provincial Board members, the fee ranges from P1.5 million up.
"Pero usahay maubos kung maghinangyoay depende sa negotiation ug capacity sa individual candidate," he said. (But this can still go down depending on the negotiation and the capacity of the individual candidate to pay.)
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- The front pages last Christmas featured unseemly photos of politicians hobnobbing with some of the world’s last remaining communists as they celebrated the 35th anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) in the town of Liangga, Surigao del Sur.
Erap’s former environment and natural resources secretary was there. The others consisted of the province’s vice governor, who was quoted as representing his governor and his congressman, Liangga’s vice mayor, and lesser politicians.
The hosts in that event are the same people who require what they call a permit-to-campaign (PTC) before any candidate can enter areas they claim to control. The PTC is granted upon payment of an amount specified by or negotiated with area commanders. Those who pay receive a guarantee of safety.
This practice is being reported as standard fare in those areas. If so, it poses disturbing questions about the integrity of the republic and of our electoral system.
First, it means that the government has no control over certain parts of the country, ceding them to lawless elements and compromising the sovereignty of the Republic.
Second, the legitimacy of certain officials is questionable. Their election to office may have been due to the illegal support of these armed groups – in exchange for which they may be abetting their nefarious activities, thereby imperiling instead of securing their jurisdiction. It violates their oath of office.
And third, it suggests that some candidates approve of extortion and gunpoint persuasion in electoral contests. Anyone who plays along with extortion, or who concedes to threats, has no place in government. No one should benefit from an advantage conferred by lawlessness.
This practice is plain and simple extortion – a protection racket. It corrupts and distorts elections. It favors certain candidates even as it prevents others to campaign.
To pay for a PTC is collusion or bribery. To impose it is extortion. Those who refuse to pay risk danger to their person. They cannot campaign freely, or at all. So it makes a mockery of our election laws and spits in the face of the right to vie for public office.
LIANGA, Surigao del Sur -- For fees ranging from P50,000 to P1.5 million, the New People’s Army will guarantee the safety of politicians campaigning in the rebel group’s “controlled territories.”
George Madlos aka “Ka Oris,” National Democratic Front Mindanao spokesperson, said no political candidates would be exempted from paying the fees.
“There are no poor candidates in this election. If you run (for an elective position), you are not poor,” Madlos said.
He said candidates for governor in the provinces would have to fork out P1.5 million so they can campaign freely in NPA controlled territories without fear from harassment.
For those running for Congress, Madlos said candidates will have to pay P300,000. Those running for town mayors will pay P50,000, depending on the income of the municipality, he said.
Madlos said mayoralty candidates for Mindanao’s 27 cities will have to pay the fees, too, and secure “permit to campaign” (PTC) coupons.
The NPA, which is engaged in Asia’s longest insurgency, has 35 guerilla fronts operating in 20 provinces and 27 cities in Mindanao.
“There is no denying that we exist in the mountains. Local candidates are familiar with the revolutionary dynamics in their localities,” Madlos said.
He said voters in NPA-controlled territories comprise 20 percent of Mindanao’s 18.1 million inhabitants.
“It is enough to swing the victory of politicians,” Madlos said.
Candidates for national elective positions are advised to negotiate directly with the NDF or NPA central committees, Madlos said.
He said candidates who will refuse to pay up will not be allowed to campaign in NPA sanctuaries.
“Candidates must be ready to present their PTC cards or certificate upon entering revolutionary territories to campaign, Madlos said.
He said candidates who refuse to comply and still enter their territories will be considered as engaging in provocative acts. Security escorts of these candidates, Madlos said, will be subjected to NPA military action.
Journalists and a group of government officials were given a glimpse of the NPA’s influence in the hinterlands when they went to a hinterland village, 15 kilometers north of Lianga town last Tuesday.
There, amid a backdrop of nipa huts and smiling faces of villagers, the journalists and government officials were treated to a display of NPA firepower.
Some 60 NPA guerilla fighters armed with M16 and M14 rifles drilled in front of the visitors. The rebels, some of them women, also performed songs and dances.
One of the visiting government officials, Rep. Prospero Pichay, chair of the Congress national defense committee, asked Madlos of the possibility of lowering the fees.
Pichay said the fees are “exorbitant” for candidates who do not have enough financial resources.
Another government official who was in the meeting, Rep. Oscar Moreno of Misamis Oriental, said he will not pay the NPA. Moreno is running for governor in Misamis Oriental where several towns are influenced by the NPA.
“I do not recognize the NPA,” Moreno said.
Col. Daniel Lucero, Armed Forces spokesperson, said the military has set up telephone hotlines where candidates can call or send text messages to report any NPA extortion.
Lucero said criminal cases will be filed against politicians who will pay the communist rebels. He did not specify what criminal cases would be filed.
“We have many deep penetration agents in the NPA ranks. We will know who will be paying,” Lucero told MindaNews by phone.
The NPA has set up an elaborate system of payment scheme to prevent unscrupulous persons and military agents from swindling the candidates.
Madlos advised candidates who want to comply to look for reliable friends who have direct contacts with the NDF or NPA.
He said candidates can also give firearms and ammunition in lieu of cash.
“We consider the fees as taxes. Like any government, those who transact business in our territories must pay the taxes,” Madlos said.
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Pay NPA’s PTC and face consequences, PNP warns Froilan Gallardo / MindaNews / 8 January 2004
DAVAO CITY -- Authorities issued frantic warnings this afternoon against any political candidates who intends to pay the New People’s Army in exchange for free access in rebel controlled territories.
“You can be charged for aiding the rebels,” warned Chief Supt. Isidro Lapeña, city police director.
But this dire warning can just be a balloon of hot air.
Director Lerio Joqueño of the Commission on Elections said no politicians were ever convicted for giving money to the rebels.
Joqueño cited the lack of witnesses as one of the reasons why there are no convictions.
“In other instances, witnesses lose interest. This is the biggest drawback. We can not just get any conviction,” she said.
The Revised Penal Code of the Philippines penalized “persons who gives aid or comfort to the enemies of the state” with imprisonment up to 17 years and a fine of P20,000.
The communist New People’s Army has come out with payment rates for politicians who wish to campaign in their territories.
All candidates must pay “permit to campaign” (PTC) fees ranging from P1.5 million to P50,000.
George Madlos, National Democratic Front Mindanao spokesperson, urged candidates to secure their permits otherwise they could be subjected to harassment by the communist rebels.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines has set up communication centers nationwide where candidates can report any extortion threat by the rebels.
Col. Rodolfo Obaniano, chief of the Army 701st Brigade, said they can provide candidates with military escorts if they wish to enter rebel controlled areas.
“This would have to be approved by the Comelec of course. But we assure that everyone can avail of the Army escorts,” Obaniano told reporters.
Lapena said the PNP and Army will set up election communication centers to monitor the incoming May elections.