NPAs forcing Caraga folk to vote for their bets?

BUTUAN CITY , Philippines  – The intelligence communities (military, police) have accused the New People’s Army operating in the hinterland areas of two Agusan provinces to have been allegedly forcing, coercing registered voters, to support and vote for two senatorial bets and a presidential bet, report said.

The leaked intelligence report alleged some NPA rebels brandishing their firearms told Agusan hinterland voters in some instances to vote for two senators of their choice and a presidentiable on May 10, or else…

The report said that the NPAs were only promoting the candidacies of the two senatorial candidates and a presidential bet but it didn’t mention the names of other senatorial bets.

This writer tried to reach Caraga Police Regional director Chief Superintendent Lino Calingasan for his comments but to no avail.

However, two top officers admitted the intelligence report were true and that some NPA rebels are now even collecting or have collected already campaign money to win permits to campaign from some local and national candidates.

Caraga region is comprised of five provinces, six cities and 57 municipalities which has total registered voters of 1,378,132 scattered all over 1,310 total barangays of the region. Nearly 45 percent of the number of barangays are in remote areas.