BY RUBY P. SILUBRICO and IME SORNITO
ILOILO City – Midterm election candidates paying fees to the New People’s Army (NPA) to campaign in rebel strongholds could be charged with “conspiracy to commit rebellion”, according to the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6).
Giving money to rebels could be interpreted as supporting their cause, said Chief Superintendent John Bulalacao, PRO-6 director.
The regional police office would seek the disqualification of candidates paying so-called revolutionary and campaign fees, said Bulalacao.
“Public office is a public trust. Criminals and their cohorts have no right to public office,” he stressed.
The five-month election period has started (Jan. 13 to June 12).
The campaign period for senators and party-list groups is from Feb. 12 to May 11 while that for members of the House of Representatives and regional, provincial, city, and municipal officials is from March 30 to May 11.
Bulalacao urged the public to “report to us politicians and candidates betraying our country so that this early they may be disqualified from running.”
The midterm elections are on May 13.
“We should not support rebels because they are considered criminals,” said Bulalacao. “We discourage politicians from giving in to the demands of rebels who are enemies of the state. Giving money to the enemy is giving support to their cause.”
The Philippine Army echoed the PRO-6’s position. According to Dingle, Iloilo-based 301st Infantry Brigade deputy commander Orlando Edralin, “Don’t heed the NPA demands – ang permit to campaign and permit to win.”
The Army and police are ready to protect election candidates campaigning in rebel-infested areas, said Edralin.
“We are here. We are committed to secure them,” he stressed.
Candidates who received demand letters from the NPA should immediately seek the help of the military and police, according to Edralin.
The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) recently issued Memorandum Circular 2018-11 reminding local chief executives not to extend any form of assistance to rebels.
“Let us all be vigilant, lalo na sa mga politicians. ‘Wag na silang makinig sa mga communist terrorists dahil wala naman silang magandang intension for an honest and orderly election,” said Edralin.
He confirmed that the Army has stepped up its offensive operations against the NPA.
“We are engaging them. Hindi na natin hinihintay na lumapit sila sa atin,” said Edralin.
On Monday an Army soldier was wounded in an encounter with rebels in Barangay Cabatangan, Lambunao, Iloilo.
Corporal Aldrin Cablas of the 61st Infantry Battalion (61IB) was taken to the Dr. Ricardo S. Provido Memorial District Hospital in Calinog, Iloilo for a gunshot wound on his left thigh.
The gunfight with rebels which started around 5:30 a.m. lasted for some 20 minutes, according to Lieutenant Colonel Sisenando Magbalot, 61IB commander.
“We sent our soldiers to the area after receiving information that there were armed men there,” he added.
This was the third clash between rebels and the 61IB since Friday last week.
“Sige-sige ang offensive operation natin ngayon against the rebels,” said Magbalot.
On Jan. 11 the 61IB clashed with rebels in Sitio Tigmahan, Barangay Alimodias, Miag-ao, Iloilo.
The soldiers were in Barangay Alimodias in response to complaints from villagers that rebels were demanding rice from them, according to Magbalot.
Around 8:05 a.m. the soldiers spotted what appeared to be an encampment of 20 armed persons. They fired at the rebels.
Magbalot said the rebels fired back but eventually retreated toward the mountains of Sibalom, Antique.
Soldiers recovered from the rebels’ abandoned camp several backpacks, improvised explosive devices, a New People’s Army flag, plastic cups, and subversive documents.
The second encounter was in Sitio Lay, Barangay Dalije, still in Miag-ao, on Jan. 13. around 11 a.m.
Magabalot said the rebels belonged to the NPA’s Southern Front Committee.
No soldiers were injured or got killed in the two previous clashes./PN
