DILG to local execs: Don’t pay campaign fees to rebels

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) yesterday warned local officials against paying "permit to campaign fees"  to communist rebels.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año has issued  a memorandum circular reminding all governors, mayors and electoral candidates that they could be held liable under Republic Act 10168 or the Terrorist Prevention and Suppression Act.

“Many reelectionists are in the heat of campaign mood, whether discreetly or openly, as the May 2019 midterm elections near. Paalala lang po na huwag magpaloko at magbayad ng ‘permit to campaign’ or ‘permit to win’ sa mga komunistang grupo na itinuturing ng gobyerno na mga terorista (Just a reminder not to be duped and pay ‘permit to campaign’ or ‘permit to win’ to communist groups the government considers terrorists),” DILG spokesman Assistant Secretary Eduardo Malaya said in a statement.

The DILG directed all regional, provincial, city and municipal peace and order councils to recommend sanctions against local chief executives who are known to have supported the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed component, the New People’s Army, through the payment of permit to campaign fees.

“Under this scheme, they demand money from candidates in exchange for allowing them to enter and campaign freely in the hinterlands that are within their area of operations,” Malaya said.

He described the act as a form of extortion of the rebel to raise funds to fuel their campaign to overthrow the government.

“The DILG is calling all (local government units) and law enforcement agencies to ensure that all candidates and political parties are allowed unhampered entrance in every LGU and to ensure the peace and order in all areas, including those considered as hotbeds of insurgency, so that all candidates and political parties are given access to the electorate during the campaign period without intimidation or manipulation by any group,” he said.