Local execs warned: Don’t pay permit to campaign to rebels
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) yesterday
warned local officials from paying permit to campaign to communist rebels.
DILG Secretary Euardo Año issued a memorandum circular reminding
all governors, mayors, as well as electoral candidates that they could be held liable under Republic Act 10168 or the Terrorist Prevention and Suppression Act.
Many reelectionists are in the heat of campaign mood, whether discreetly or openly, as the May 2019 midterm elections near.
“Paalala lang po na huwag magpaloko at magbayad ng permit to campaign or
permit to win sa mga komunistang grupo na itinuturing ng gobyerno na mga terorista,” DILG spokesman Assistant Secretary Eduardo Malaya said in a statement.
The DILG directed all regional, provincial, city and municipal peace and order councils to recommend sanctions against local chief executives who are known to have supported the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed component, the New People's Army, through the payment of permit to campaign fees.
“Under this scheme, they demand money from candidates in exchange to allowing them to enter and campaign freely in the hinterland that are within their area of operations,” Malaya said.
Malaya described the act as a form of extortion of the rebel to raise funds to fuel their campaign to overthrow the government.
“The DILG is calling all LGUs (local government units) and law enforcement agencies to ensure that all candidates and political parties are allowed unhampered entrance in every LGU and to ensure the peace and order in all areas, including those considered as hotbeds of insurgency, so that all candidates and political parties are given access to the electorate during the campaign period without intimidation or manipulation by any group,” he said.—