ILOILO City – Information reached the Philippine Army that some people sympathetic or with ties to the New People’s Army (NPA) are running in the May 14 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections.
According to Brigadier General Pio Diñoso, commander of the 301st Infantry Brigade, these election candidates in Panay and Guimaras islands beat the April 21 deadline to file certificates of candidacy.
He, however, admitted the Army has no “concrete evidence” (pending criminal charges filed) against these candidates thus, “We cannot prevent them from joining the election.”
Diñoso declined to identify these candidates but said there were about 10.
He also clarified there is nothing wrong if Left-leaning people participate in parliamentary activities.
But it is a completely different matter if, said Diñoso, after winning the elections the leftists would continue to support the NPA and the rebels’ anti-government activities.
This could be a ground for their removal from their posts, he said.
For his part, Regional Director Dennis Ausan of the Commissions on Elections (Comelec) said all election officers are bound to receive certificates of candidacy filed by aspirants for as long as all the requirements and qualifications are met.
The qualifications are the following:
* a Filipino citizen
* a resident of the place where the aspirant intends to run
* a registered voter
* at least 18 years old
* able to read and write/PN
