MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine National Police (PNP) said the 2013 midterm elections were generally peaceful, except for some instances including reports that candidates paid New People’s Army (NPA) rebels to increase their chances of winning.

PNP intelligence reports show rebels collected over P2.1-M worth of fees in exchange for permits to campaign and permits to win in the Cordillera region, Bicol and Eastern Visayas.

Read: ‘NPA extorts up to P5M from each candidate

PNP chief General Alan Purisima decried the findings, but said it would be difficult for them to file charges against the politicians because of lack of evidence.

“These are just reports from informants and we cannot just present this in court,” he said in a press conference on Thursday, May 16.

The payments were made over 6 incidents from January 13 to election day, May 13. Rebels in the Bicol region allegedly collected the most money, P1.7M, and had 4 recorded incidents.

Read: NPA launches attacks in Bicol

On Sunday, April 28, Maj General Jose Mabanta, commander of the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division, said the rebels will likely use the money to buy guns.

He said each candidate who wants to gain access to rebel-controlled areas pays between P50,000 and P5 million.

The PNP also said there was an increase in NPA-related violence this year compared to 13 incidents in the 2010 presidential elections. This year, rebels committed 16 incidents of violence including shootings, harassment, extortion, and encounters with government troops, one of which harmed the mother of Sen Teofisto Guingona and killed her two bodyguards.

A soldier was also killed on election day by the NPA. – Rappler.com