BSKE bets warned vs dealing with Reds

The Philippine National Police (PNP) yesterday warned candidates in the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) in October to refrain from engaging and dealing with communist rebels to ensure victory.

PNP chief Police Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. said there are laws that could be used against candidates found to be dealing with the Communist Party of the Philippines-new People’s Army (CPP-NPA) such as payment of permits to campaign and win for the elections.

“Let me caution candidates who will fall for this election racket of the CPPNPA that any form of monetary or material support to the CPP-NPA, a terrorist organization, is tantamount to ‘terrorist financing’ that is punishable under Republic Act No. 11479 or the Antiterrorism Act of 2020,” said Acorda.

“And if the donor or giver is an incumbent barangay or SK official, the crime is further aggravated by willful disloyalty to their Oath of Office,” he added.

The chief PNP, however, said they do not foresee serious security problem in the elections.

The election for a new set officials for the 42,022 barangays across the country will start with the 90-day election period from Aug. 28 to Nov. 29.

“This early, we do not foresee any serious peace and order concerns on a national scale in the barangay and SK elections. The actions of some remaining active guerilla fronts of the CPP-NPA are closely being monitored for possible conduct of atrocities,” said Acorda.

“Security measures are now being prepared regarding this,” he added.

Acorda also urged candidates to undergo a drug test to present to their constituents a “clean bill of health.”

“This is a magnanimous manifestation of the individual candidate’s support to the national anti-illegal drugs campaign and should be recognized by constituents as a personal display of leadership by example, especially among SK candidates who represent the youth sector,” he said.