By Pearl Gumapos
Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Police Gen. Guillermo Eleazar ordered the police to work closely with the military to prevent communist terrorists from collecting “permit-to-campaign” fees from politicians as the 2022 elections draw near.
“I am directing all police offices and units to be extra vigilant in your respective areas of responsibility and strictly monitor the extortion activities of these communist rebels in demanding money from candidates in exchange for so-called ‘permits to campaign’ for the coming elections,” Eleazar said in a statement on Saturday (June 12).
This was after the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Saturday said it will coordinate with local government units and the PNP to stop the illegal activities of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing the New People’s Army (NPA).
Eleazar also warned politicians planning to run in the 2022 elections against giving “permit-to-campaign” fees to the CPP-NPA.
“Magsilbing babala din po sana ito sa mga kakandidato sa halalan, na kung ito’y gagawin ninyo, kayo din po ay magkakaroon ng pananagutan sa batas, dahil katumbas ito ng pagbibigay ng financial support sa CPP-NPA,” he said.
Eleazar said the money collected by the communist rebels will most likely be used for the purchase of more firearms and other logistics to sustain the CPP-NPA’s “armed struggle.”
He added that giving in to the communist rebels’ demand for money would only encourage them to continue their extortion activities.
He urged politicians to immediately report or coordinate with the PNP and the AFP if they are victimized by the CPP-NPA.
“Together with the AFP, we will intensify our security measures against communist rebels so that we can prevent this illegal activity,” Eleazar said. – jlo
