NPA denies hand in VCM torching in Isabela
CITY OF CAUAYAN — The New People’s Army (NPA)-Fortunato Camus Command has condemned Philippine National Police chief General Oscar Albayalde who blamed the communist rebels for snatching and burning two vote counting machines (VCMs) and election materials in Sta. Isabel, Jones town on Tuesday.
“Without any investigation, (Albayalde) was quick to pinpoint the NPAs as behind the burning to cover-up the (alleged incompetence) and dereliction of duty of the Jones police in the VCM and ballot burning,” spokesperson Guillermo Alcala said in a two-page statement sent to the Inquirer.
Armed men snatched two VCMs being loaded onto a dump truck en route to the municipal canvassing center at the town hall.
The Comelec classified Jones as an election “hot spot.”
“The NPAs do not believe in the rotten system of elections but we respect the people’s right to vote so we avoid doing acts against them,” Alcala added.
The rebels tagged the private armed groups of political leaders in Jones as those behind the torching of the VCMs and election materials. (Editor: Leti Boniol)
