Bacolod City – The Army’s 79th Infantry Battalion is working closely with the Commission on Elections, Philippine National Police, and other stakeholders to ensure safe, peaceful and credible elections in northern Negros on May 12, said its commander, Lt. Col. Arnel Calaoagan.
“Our troops are fully committed to ensuring that the people of Negros can vote freely and without fear,” Calaoagan said.
After a recent encounter with remnants of the New People’s Army in the hinterlands of Cadiz City, the 79IB soldiers recovered extortion letters addressed to small planters and businessmen.
Authorities are looking into the possibility that it could be also distributed to politicians and candidates for the midterm elections.
“There is always a possibility that this will happen. They have extended their extortion activities by dividing their ranks to much smaller groups or factions, which was evident in the last encounter in Cadiz,” according to 1Lt. Dan Carlo Somoza, 79IB Civil Military Operations chief.
The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) has ordered its armed wing, the New People’s Army, to enforce a set of policies for politicians entering into what it claims are “revolutionary areas.”
In a statement, the CPP said “candidates and their supporters will be allowed to conduct their election campaigns in accordance with established guidelines.”
They said that politicians are prohibited from bringing armed goons and police and military escorts, which the CPP claims intimidate the people. It also said that the NPA has standing orders to seize the weapons of candidates and their armed goons. (Gilbert Bayoran via tvds)