Permit to campaign does not exist – CPP

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) said the so-called Permit to Campaign (PTC) in areas influenced by the revolutionary movement does not exist.

“There is no such policy as requiring payments for the privilege to campaign within the areas of jurisdiction of the people’s democratic government,” the CPP said.

The revolutionary party also criticized the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for using “perverted propaganda” by saying that the New People’s Army (NPA) is extorting money from politicians.

Maj Gen Jose Mabanta, chief of the military’s 3rd Infantry Division, earlier divulged that half of the political contenders in his area are buying protection from the NPA.

“The overriding aim of the policies of the people’s democratic government with regard the reactionary elections is to regulate the conduct of the election campaign within areas of its jurisdiction in order to ensure that the rights and welfare of the masses are not trampled upon,” the CPP said.

“All candidates in the reactionary elections who wish to conduct their campaigns within the areas of the people’s government must abide by these policies,” the CPP added.

Various candidates in past elections have however complained about the PTC policy of the NPA in rural areas.

The revolutionary party also asserted that the enforcement of the election policies of the “people’s democratic government” is not for sale. “On their own volition, a great majority of candidates participating in the reactionary elections seek audiences with the revolutionary authorities in order to forge possible areas of cooperation and coordinate their activities,” the CPP said.

“The coordination and cooperation between the election candidates and the organs of the people’s democratic government are carried out in the most part without any element of coercion and stem largely out of a recognition of the latter’s political and government authority,” the CPP said.

The CPP also clarified that the NPA does not participate, directly or indirectly, in the mainstream elections.

“The CPP has repeatedly made clear its policy that the NPA does not participate directly or indirectly in the reactionary elections. All candidates who cooperate and coordinate with the revolutionary authorities are accorded with equal opportunities to campaign within the areas of jurisdiction of the people’s government,” the CPP said.

“Their political activities within the areas under the authority of the people’s government are coordinated in order to prevent the overlapping of schedules, ensure peace and order and the rights and welfare of the people,” the CPP added.

For politicians who fail to follow the policies of the revolutionary movement, however, they would face military enforcement from the NPA, the CPP said.

“Armed political scalawags who refuse to abide by the policies and coordinate with the revolutionary authorities are subjects of the armed enforcement of the NPA,” the CPP said.

Previously, on the evening of April 20, NPA rebels attacked a convoy carrying Ginoog mayor Ruthie Gungona, killing some of her convoy while injuring the mayor. While the rebels did apologize for the attack, they claimed they acted in self-defense. NPA rebels also captured a soldier in Compostela Valley on April 24. – Rappler.com