PNP to help stop NPA extortion during election season
PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar on Saturday said they will be fully working with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in preventing the New People’s Army (NPA), the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), from continuing to demand so-called ‘Permit-to-Campaign’ fees from politicians this coming election period.
“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,” the PNP chief said as the AFP called on the full support of the PNP and all local government units in their effort to stop the rebel practice.
Eleazar pointed out that this type of extortion activity by the CPP/NPA just shows that they are common thugs and no longer adhere to any principle.
At the same time, he also warned politicians planning to run for elective posts in the coming 2020 presidential, national and local elections from giving in to the extortion demand of the NPA saying that by doing so, they will be complicit in the communist rebels’ illegal activities.
“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,” the PNP chief said.
According to Eleazar, the money collected by the communist rebels will definitely be used by the leftist movement to procure more firearms and other logistics to sustain their senseless and pointless “armed struggle.”
The top cop added that giving in to the communist rebels’ demand for money would only embolden them to continue their extortion activities.
“Hangga’t may nagpapatakot at nagbibigay, hindi titigil ang mga rebeldeng komunista sa ganitong gawain,” he said as he urged the public, particularly politicians, to immediately coordinate with authorities if they get demand letters from the CPP/NPA or are approached by persons claiming to be representatives of the rebel movement.
“Together with the AFP, we will intensify our security measures against communist rebels so that we can prevent this illegal activity,” Eleazar said.
