‘Reds biggest threat to Negros polls’

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — The New People’s Army (NPA) is the biggest threat to this year’s  elections in Negros, according to the military.

“We know that it has a political intention in the forthcoming elections,” Col. Benedict Arevalo, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, said during the activation of the Negros Occidental Provincial Joint Security Control Center in this city on Friday.

Arevalo said soldiers are bracing for a possible escalation of attacks by communist rebels as elections near.

On Thursday night, suspected NPA rebels stormed a military outpost in Kabankalan City, leaving an Army soldier wounded.

Prior to the attack, a militiaman was killed in Guihulngan City while heavy equipment valued at around P120 million were burned in Ayungon, both in Negros Oriental.

Arevalo urged candidates to report extortion attempts by NPA rebels even as he warned local officials against supporting the communist movement.