PNP chief to 2022 poll bets: Shun rebels‘ ‘permit to campaign’ fees

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar   (INQUIRER file photo / Niño Jesus Orbeta)

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Guillermo Eleazar on Monday reminded politicians not to pay the “permit-to-campaign” fees allegedly collected by rebel groups.

Eleazar said that communist rebels usually profit from the elections by demanding “permit-to-campaign fees” from local and national candidates.

“As the national polls draw near, the CPP-NPA (Communist Party of the Philippines-New Peoples’ Army) is expected to again take advantage of the elections for financial gain through extortion,” Eleazar said in a statement.

“Nanawagan po tayo sa mga balak kumandidato sa nalalapit na halalan na huwag po tayo magbibigay ng tinatawag na ‘permit-to-campaign fee’ sa  CPP-NPA dahil wala itong pinagkaiba sa pagsuporta sa mga rebeldeng komunista at sa kanilang paghahasik ng karahasan sa ating mga komunidad,” he added.

(We are appealing to 20221 election candidates not to shell out permit-to-campaign fees to CPP-NPA because it is no different from supporting communist rebels in wreaking havoc in our community.)

Eleazar explained that candidates who give in to the rebels’ demand  would mean “giving the communist rebels financial support”, thus making them liable for violation of several special laws.

Eleazar cited President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration of the CPP-NPA as a terrorist organization under Proclamation No. 374 in connection with Section 3 (e) (1) of Republic Act No. 10168 or the Terrorism and Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012.

“Ayon po dito sa Republic Act 10168, nahaharap sa kaso ang sinumang magbibigay ng suportang pinansyal sa alinmang teroristang grupo. Any amount given to the terrorist group would be considered financial support to enable the group to carry out an attack,” Eleazar warned.

(According to Republic Act 10168, anyone extending financial support to communist groups will face charges.)

Eleazar likewise warned that a political candidate may also be held accountable as a principal in terrorist activities under Section 12 of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 and could face charges under the Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines.

In 2018, CPP founding chair Jose Maria Sison said there was no such thing as “permit-to-campaign” fees after the military claimed that the CPP-NPA earned hundreds of millions of pesos from collecting such fees elections.

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