Albayalde disputes Joma on no permit to campaign fees

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Oscar Albayalde yesterday disputed the statement of Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founding chairman Jose Ma. Sison that communist rebels do not extort money from candidates.

Albayalde said NPA rebels have demanded permit to campaign fees from politicians who want to enter communist-influenced areas.

“As per experience, meron, dahil hindi naman po nya kontrolado yung ginagawa ng mga myembro ng CPP-NPA (New People’s Army),” Albayalde said in an interview over dzMM.

Sison had earlier said parties and candidates do not pay permit to campaign in communist-infested areas even as he admitted that some candidates and political parties offer donations.

Instead of giving money to the NPA, Albayalde urged candidates to coordinate with the police when they visit remote areas.

Don’t vote for militants

As this developed, Davao City Mayor Sara DuterteCarpio urged the public not to vote for militant party-list groups in the 2019 elections.

“Please be reminded of what happened yesterday and previous incidents involving... militant groups. Do not support party-list groups under the Makabayan bloc. These are Bayan Muna, Alliance of Concerned Teachers...Anakpawis, Gabriela, Kabataan, and Migrante,” Carpio said.

She was referring to the traffic jam that lasted for almost 10 hours in Barangay Lasang in Davao City the other day after the Kilusang Mayo Uno put up barricades.

She said militant groups “masquerade themselves as pro-people, but only want to sow hostility and chaos.”