ILOILO CITY — There are allegedly members of the New People’s army (NPA) in Panay who have filed their certificates of candidacy (COCs) for the May 14 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.
Brigadier General Pio Diñoso, the commanding officer of the 301st Infantry Brigade based in Dingle, Iloilo, said they have gathered some of identities based on reports and from what they heard from the locals. However, he said they do not have evidence to confirm it.
He said they have recorded not more than 10 but he refused to divulge more information about them.
“With the absence of concrete evidence and case, we cannot prevent them from joining the election,” he said.
But he said the participation of the alleged rebels in the election is “good.”
“If they join our democratic process, it is good. It is also our wish for them to join the parliamentary activities and democratic principles,” Diñoso said.
However, he said that if they are already in the government but they will still support the activities of the armed revolution, it will be a different thing.
“Once they are already elected, they could be dismissed from service,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dennis Ausan, the Regional Director of the Commission on Elections, said that “as long as your COC is complete, we will receive that.”
“With the picture, with the documentary stamp, with the signature,” he said.
Stating the qualifications for the local polls, Ausan said that candidates should be a Filipino citizen; 18 years old and above; resident of the place where he or she intends to run; a registered voter and able to read and write. (Cindy Ferrer/PNA)
