Ex-rebel bares communist group getting campaign fees from candidates
MANILA, Philippines–A former member of the communist-led New People’s Army (NPA) warned that there are candidates, including those running for a Senate seat in the 2019 elections, who are shelling out millions of pesos to pay for “campaign fees” for them to get endorsements from leftist organizations.
This development came after the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) disclosed that there are 349 government officials who are giving out cash in exchange of “permit to campaign.”
READ: DILG says 349 gov’t officials financing NPA
A former political officer of the “Makabayan communist terrorist group” who introduced himself as “Ka Nonoy” said there are actually nine “traditional politicians” who are being endorsed by organizations with close ties to the Communist Party of the Philippines-National Democratic Front-New People’s Army (CPP-NDF-NPA). This is in exchange of about P10 million to P20 million.
Ka Nonoy also accused the communist organization of giving up ideologies in exchange of money for supporting candidates that once pushed for the country’s close connections with the United States.
The former rebel asked the government, particularly the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to help stop the communist’s collection of campaing money from politicians.
READ: AFP tells pols: Don’t pay Reds campaign fees
He said there are negotiations transpiring between the communist organizations and candidates concerning the endorsements of politicians in areas infested with communist rebels.
“Sa ngayon, sinasabing niluluto na ng CPP-NDF-NPA-CTG ang Manny Villar-Grace Poe sa 2022, parehas na sinuportahan ng kilusan sa pagkapresidente noong 2010 at 2016 election,” Ka Nonoy pointed out.
Because of this, Ka Nonoy said there could be a demoralization happening in the lower units in the NPA for the movement’s giving out of support even to candidates who have an opposing ideologies.
He said the Party has becoming more desparate to support national candidates in exchange of campaign fees. /jpv
