NPA poll extortion may reach P5 billion

MANILA, Philippines - The New People’s Army (NPA) may generate as much as P5 billion from its extortion activities this year mainly from permits that would allow candidates to campaign within areas considered as their strongholds, an official of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said yesterday.

“According to the reports we received, the NPA (rebels) in 2004 raised P1.5 billion; in 2007 they raised P2 billion; for 2010, according to the reports, it will range from P2 billion to P5 billion,” Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento said at the sidelines of an election forum organized by the Philippine Army yesterday.

“These are serious reports because these have repercussions on our elections and democracy. I hope our institutions will address the serious character of these PTCs (permits to campaign) and PTWs (permits to win),” he added.

The report cited by Sarmiento was prepared by think tank Institute for Peace, Violence and Terrorism Research and presented in yesterday’s forum.

“If (the report) is true, that is alarming,” Sarmiento said.

He said he would support initiatives to strengthen the Election Code and to impose harsher penalties against politicians who contribute funds to communist insurgents.

“We have received suggestions from the generals to improve on the Election Code and the bill to penalize those conniving or perpetrating the PTCs and PTWs. I think these are good suggestions,” he said.

Sarmiento admitted that so far, no one has been punished for paying rebels in exchange for campaign permits.

“Complaints should be filed with us because these are serious offenses. I think we need persons who can testify, who can affirm their statements that this is ongoing, and identify the parties involved in this exercise,” he said.

Maj. Gen. Ruperto Pabustan, commander of the Army’s 9th Infantry Division, said NPA rebels in Bicol are charging candidates as much as P2 million for color-coded permits.

He said rebels are asking P2 million for national candidates, P1 million for governors and vice governors, P500,000 for congressmen, P150,000 to P250,000 for mayors and vice mayors, and P50,000 for councilors.

“I’m sure the money collected in the whole Bicol region will be sent to the national level of the NPA and a certain percentage will remain with them in the province to buy their firearms, ammunition, and their provisions for future tactical operations against government troops,” Pabustan said.